Vision Spring Initiatives joined the world to mark Human Rights Day which is usually the last day of the 16 days of Activism against gender based violence. The theme of Human Rights Day 2020 is to “Recover Better – Stand Up for Human Rights”.
The theme, according to the group is apt as it relates to the Covid-19 pandemic which has continues to ravage the world.
The group said more than ever before more action is required by the government and its agencies, civil society organisations, private sectors to begin the process of rebuilding the health sector.
‘ Human rights mean that people have the right to self- determination. Closely related to this are women and girls rights to bodily autonomy’.
According to reports,Nigeria has the third highest infant mortality in the world and also the largest contributor to global mortality rate. ‘The rates are high not because diseases leading to death cannot be cured or prevented,but women and girls are dying from preventable and treatable sexual health complications as a result of entrenched resistance to women’s autonomy and control over their bodies. This is often justified on the basis of culture and/or religion. Poor health care systems and weak policy implementation add to women’s risk of death’ Ngozi Nwosu-Juba,Project Director , Vision Spring Initiatives disclosed.
Sexual and reproductive health are human rights! The slogan of leaving no one behind and the commitment in the newly adopted Universal Health Coverage Declaration CAN only be achieved if government health plan target those in most need of it; women and girls. Vision Spring Initiatives and its partners will continue to work to empower women and girls, raise awareness on their rights, advocate for the adoption and implementation of laws and policies that support their rights including their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Human Rights Day is observed each year on December 10 since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 1948, the first global document which outlined human rights. Coincidently December 12 has been declared Universal Health Coverage Declaration Day following its adoption in September 2019.