WCC contributes to International Conference on Family Planning in Colombia – World Council of Churches

Report on the International Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Introduction: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

An international conference convened leaders, advocates, and innovators to advance progress toward universal sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The event’s objectives directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). The conference served as a platform for forging strategic partnerships, a core principle of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), to safeguard SRHR for all populations.

The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Advancing the SDG Agenda

The World Council of Churches (WCC) played a significant role as one of four co-chairs of the conference’s Faith Committee. This committee organized an interfaith pre-conference and integrated faith-based perspectives throughout the main event, underscoring the critical role of community and religious leaders in achieving public health and equality targets outlined in the SDGs.

Key Commitments to Accelerate Progress on SDGs 3 and 5

During the closing ceremony on November 6, the Faith Committee presented three key commitments formulated to address existing challenges and accelerate progress towards SRHR-related SDG targets. These commitments are:

1. Education and Stigma Reduction: Acknowledging the need for continuous education and advocacy within faith communities to reduce stigma and promote access to family planning, directly supporting SDG 3, Target 3.7 (universal access to SRH-care services) and SDG 5, Target 5.6 (ensure universal access to SRHR).
2. Youth Empowerment and Leadership: A commitment for youth and faith leaders to collaborate in challenging harmful misconceptions and upholding the dignity, health, and agency of young people. This action is vital for ensuring the health and well-being of future generations as envisioned in SDG 3.
3. Policy Advocacy and Resource Mobilization: A pledge to partner in advocacy efforts to influence policies, secure sustained funding, and ensure equitable access to family planning supplies and services. This directly contributes to the frameworks required by SDG 3 and highlights the multi-stakeholder cooperation model of SDG 17.

Case Study: Personal Testimony as a Tool for Transformation

Gracia Violeta Ross, a WCC programme executive, delivered a testimony titled “Faithfully Fierce: From Testimony to Transformation.” The presentation provided a powerful narrative on the intersection of faith, health, and human rights.

• Addressing Stigma: By sharing her experience as a pastor’s daughter living with HIV, Ross highlighted how faith communities can either perpetuate or confront stigma, a significant barrier to achieving the HIV-related targets of SDG 3.
• A Call for Inclusive Dialogue: Ross issued a call for individuals to share their SRHR experiences and for community and religious leaders to listen without prejudice. This approach fosters the transformative dialogue necessary to advance both SDG 3 and SDG 5 by creating inclusive and supportive environments.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article’s central theme is the promotion of “sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.” It explicitly mentions “access to family planning supplies and services” and confronting health-related stigma, particularly concerning HIV, which are core components of SDG 3.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  Ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights is a fundamental aspect of gender equality and empowering women and girls. The conference’s goal to “safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights” directly contributes to achieving SDG 5.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article emphasizes “equitable access” and confronting “stigma,” which are barriers that create inequality. By advocating for the health and agency of all individuals, especially young people and those living with HIV, the article addresses the need to reduce inequalities in access to healthcare and social inclusion.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The commitment “to partnering in advocacy to influence policies” is a direct engagement with institutional and governance structures. This aims to create a legal and policy environment that supports sexual and reproductive health rights, aligning with the goal of building effective and inclusive institutions.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the collaborative nature of the conference, which “united leaders, advocates, and innovators” to “forge partnerships.” The specific mention of the Faith Committee and its commitment “to partnering in advocacy” exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships essential for achieving the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.7: Universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services

   This target is directly addressed through the conference’s goal of achieving “sexual and reproductive health and rights for all” and the Faith Committee’s commitment to ensuring “equitable access to family planning supplies and services.”

2. Target 3.3: End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases

   The personal testimony of Gracia Violeta Ross, a pastor’s daughter “living with HIV,” and her work highlighting how churches “confront stigma” associated with the virus, directly relates to the global effort to end the AIDS epidemic.

3. Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights

   This target is the central focus of the conference mentioned in the article. The entire event is dedicated to driving “progress toward achieving and safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights for all,” which is the essence of Target 5.6.

4. Target 16.b: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development

   The commitment to “influence policies” for “equitable access” implies an effort to reform or create laws and policies that are non-discriminatory and ensure that services are available to everyone, regardless of their background or status.

5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

   The article describes the conference as a platform to “forge partnerships” and details the collaborative work of the Faith Committee, which includes faith leaders and youth leaders. This is a clear example of a civil society partnership working towards a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 3.7: Access to Family Planning Services

  The article’s emphasis on “equitable access to family planning supplies and services” implies a measurable outcome. Progress could be tracked by indicators such as the proportion of the population with access to family planning services or the availability and affordability of contraceptive supplies, which aligns with official SDG indicators like 3.7.1 (Proportion of women of reproductive age who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods).

• Indicator for Target 5.6 & 16.b: Policies and Legal Frameworks

  The commitment “to partnering in advocacy to influence policies” suggests that a key measure of success would be the number and nature of policies changed or enacted. This relates to Indicator 5.6.2 (Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee full and equal access to women and men… to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education).

• Indicator for Target 3.3: Reduction of Stigma and Discrimination

  The article highlights the need to “reduce stigma” and “challenge harmful misconceptions,” particularly around HIV and youth sexual health. While difficult to quantify, progress could be measured through surveys on public attitudes and reported incidents of discrimination against people living with HIV or seeking reproductive health services.

• Indicator for Target 17.17: Formation of Partnerships

  The article explicitly states that a goal of the conference was to “forge partnerships.” The existence and activities of the Faith Committee and its commitment “to working together as youth and faith leaders” serve as a direct, albeit qualitative, indicator of the formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships.

4. Table of Identified SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: oikoumene.org