Nearly half of women in 57 states are being denied the right to consent to sexual intercourse with their partners, using contraceptives, or access to health care, declared the latest UNFPA report “My body is my own”.
The report which focuses on bodily autonomy: the strength and opportunity to decide for your own body without fearing harassment, or that others might take that decision for you, documented that “31% of women in Albania are not entirely empowered to decide themselves over health and reproductive care, or having the option between saying “yes” or “no” to sexual intercourse”.
“The fact that almost half of women still cannot decide for themselves if they want to engage in sexual intercourse or not, whether they want to use contraceptives or not, or access to health care, should anger us”, said the executive director of UNFPA Dr. Natalia Kanem.
What is bodily autonomy and must we protect this human right?
Let @UNFPA explain and join the millions of people around the world saying #MyBodyIsMyOwn: https://t.co/urFdK30m8Z#StandUp4HumanRights pic.twitter.com/PCHAlFJlTK
— UNFPA (@UNFPA) April 14, 2021
Substantial choices, according to the report, must take into consideration the necessities and experiences of those affected.
“Bodily autonomy is the foundation to relish all human rights, including the right to health and the right to a life free of violence”, said Alanna Armitage, Regional Director of UNFPA for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
“A woman that has control over her body is likely to be more empowered in other fields of life. She gains not only autonomy but also health and education, income, and security. She has more opportunities to succeed, and as a result, so does her family, too”, she added.
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