Local MP represents New Zealand on Women and Girls Sexual Reproductive Health Rights on global stage
Local Tukituki MP, Catherine Wedd has represented New Zealand in Norway, alongside hundreds of other MPs from around the world to discuss Sexual Reproductive Health Rights.
The International Parliamentarians Conference on Population and Development took place in Oslo after six years of disruptions, following the pandemic.
Wedd was selected to represent New Zealand as the Chair of NZ’s Parliamentarian Population and Development Group. (NZPPD)
“It was an honour to represent New Zealand and share our policies and the work we are doing to support women with sexual reproductive health, including access to contraception, maternal health, cervical testing and addressing period poverty,” she said.
“Our government’s recent move to reduce period poverty by extending free period products in schools is world leading and giving young women equal opportunities.
“This gives young women dignity and ensures they don’t miss school because they don’t have access to period products.”
An Otago University study estimated that up to 95,000 young New Zealand women could be missing school because of a lack of access to period products.
The global event also provided an opportunity to speak on behalf of the Pacific Region, where New Zealand supports Pacific countries, by providing critical health and education services and funding various Sexual Reproductive Health programmes.
The Pacific exhibits some of the worst health and social development indicators globally.
Low contraceptive rates, high adolescent birth rates, and high rates of sexual and gender-based violence.
Recent modelling estimates that one in three women of reproductive age in the Pacific have an unmet need. This unmet need for modern contraception is among the highest in the world.
“Funding from New Zealand is helping prevent thousands of unintended pregnancies and hundreds of unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths each year and enabling women to have control of their bodies and pursue their dreams.”
“The opportunity to connect with hundreds of MPs around the world had been extremely valuable and gave me an opportunity to showcase New Zealand as a progressive nation, when supporting the needs of women.”
Family Planning, recently rebranded to Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa is funded by the Government and has been providing primary care for SRH services since 1953.
The International Parliamentarians Conference on Population and Development was fully funded by the Norwegian Government and the UN Family Planning Association.
