To: the Prime ministers and the ministers for development cooperation of Sweden, Denmark and Finland
We, Members of Parliament from the Nordic countries, Sweden, Denmark and Finland representing all party groups on sexual and reproductive health and rights from right to left on the political scale, want to take the opportunity to encourage our governments to keep a high profile on sexual and reproductive health and rights at the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) summit in September 2010.
MDG 5 is the goal most off track and the toll on women’s lives are enormous:
- Unsafe abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity, resulting each year is 68.000 maternal deaths and millions of women suffering from complications.
- 4 out of 5 maternal deaths are the direct results of obstetric complications, most of which could be averted through delivery with skilled birth attendance and access to emergency obstetric care.
- For every woman who dies from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth, an estimated 20 others suffer pregnancy-related illness or experience other severe consequences
- Pregnancy and deliveries are the leading causes of death for young women under 19 in developing countries . But adolescent fertility remained stagnant or increased marginally between 2000 and 2005.
In November 2009, representatives from the Nordic Ministries of Foreign Affairs met in Oslo to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and development and the 15th anniversary of the Fourth World conference on women. At the meeting, a set of recommendations was presented to the Nordic governments to bring forward. These recommendations put a focus on the complementary Nordic position on SRHR issues such as sexuality education, safe abortion, and young people’s right to their sexuality, gender equality and the important role of men in promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In a few days, the member states of the European Union will decide on a common EU position for the high level meeting in September. We, Members of Parliament from the Nordic countries, urge our governments to raise the Nordic profile and stand up for sexual and reproductive rights as essential human rights and that access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive services is s a prerequisite for achieving the Millennium development goals until 2015.
We know that sexual and reproductive health and rights are contested and controversial in the EU as well as globally. Without the leadership of Nordic countries, these vital issues will not be successfully addressed. We, Members of Parliament from the Nordic countries, stand behind our governments in the struggle to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health and we ask you to take on this responsibility.
Yours Sincerely
Members of the Swedish, Danish and Finnish all party groups on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
From Sweden:
Annika Qarlsson, Centre Party
Rosita Runegrund, Christian Democratic Party
Hans Linde, Left Party
Sofia Arkelsten, Conservative Party
Cecilia Wigström, Liberal Party
From Denmark:
Kirsten Brosbøl, Social Democratic party
Helle Sjelle, Conservative Peoples Party
Magnus Heunicke, Social Democratic party
Lone Dybkjær, Social-Liberal Party
Benny Engelbrecht, Social Democratic party
Line Barfoed, Red-Green Alliance
Johanne Scmidt-Nielsen, Red-Green Alliance
Per Clausen, Red-Green Alliance
Kamal Qureshi, Socialist People’s Party
Jesper Petersen, Socialist People’s Party
Pia Olsen Dyhr, Socialist People’s Party
Karsten Lauritzen, Liberal Party
Jeppe Kofod, Social Democratic Party
From Finland:
Minna Sirnö, Lefta Alliance
Heli Järvinen, Green Party
Miiapetra Kumpula-Natri, Social Democratic Party
Sirpa Pietikäinen, MEP National Coalition Party
Johanna Sumuvuori, Green Party
Ilkka Kantola, Social Democratic Party
Aila Paloniemi, Center Party
Janina Andersson, Green Party