The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s 2021 flagship report – State of World Population Report 2021: “My body is my own: Claiming the right to autonomy and self-determination” – is launched in Hanoi on April 22. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Nearly half of women in 57 developing countries across the world are denied the right to bodily autonomy, according to a report of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released in Hanoi on April 22.
The UNFPA’s 2021 flagship report – State of World Population Report 2021: “My body is my own: Claiming the right to autonomy and self-determination” – was published in cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee.
For the first time, a UN report focuses on the topic of bodily autonomy, without fear of violence or having someone else decide for you. This lack of bodily autonomy has massive implications beyond the profound harms to individual women and girls – potentially depressing economic productivity, undercutting skills, and resulting in extra costs to health care and judicial systems.
Bodily autonomy is measured through two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, including 5.6.1 and 5.6.2.
In the report, Vietnam is cited, among 57 countries which have data, for the measurement of SDG indicator 5.6.2 – the existence of laws, regulations, or policies that guarantee full and equal access to women and men aged 15 years and older to sexual and reproductive healthcare, information and education.
Vietnam has the indicator value of 54 percent out of 100 percent achievement, which is higher than Nepal (48 percent) but lower than Cambodia (98 percent) and Myanmar (75 percent).
Vietnam does not yet have a full data set for SDG indicator 5.6.1 about proportion of women aged 15 – 49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive healthcare, but plans to make it available in the coming years.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Secretary of the HCYU Central Committee Nguyen Tuong Lam said the theme of this year’s World Population Report “My body is my own” turns the spotlight on bodily autonomy. With the focus on comprehensive sexuality education and gender equality, the report calls for joint efforts in strengthening awareness among young people and rights to ensure that they are equipped with knowledge and skills to make their own decisions about their health, he said.
Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, speaks at the event. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, said: “The denial of bodily autonomy is a violation of women and girls’ fundamental rights that reinforce inequalities and perpetuate violence arising from gender discrimination.”
“It is nothing less than an annihilation of the spirit, and it must stop.”
“By contrast,” she continued, “a woman who has control over her body is more likely to be empowered in other spheres of her life. She is more likely to thrive, and so is her family, her community and her country.”
Through this ground-breaking report, the UNFPA is measuring both women’s power to make their own decisions about their bodies and the extent to which countries’ laws support or interfere with a woman’s right to make these decisions. The data show a strong link between decision-making power and higher levels of education.
The report shows that in countries where data is available, only 55 percent of women are fully empowered to make choices over healthcare, contraception and sexual relations.
Only 71 percent of countries guarantee access to overall maternity care. About 75 percent of countries legally ensure full, equal access to contraception.
About 80 percent of countries have laws supporting sexual health and well-being.
The report also documents many other ways that the bodily autonomy of women, men, girls and boys is violated, revealing that 20 countries or territories have “marry-your-rapist” laws, where a man can escape criminal prosecution if he marries the woman or girl he has raped.
Forty-three countries have no legislation addressing the issue of marital rape (rape by a spouse).
More than 30 countries restrict women’s right to move around outside the home.
Girls and boys with disabilities are nearly three times more likely to be subjected to sexual violence, with girls at the greatest risk.
The Sate of World Population report is the UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. Published yearly since 1978, it shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights./.
