On Friday 4 October, the multiparty initiative on global health and sexual and reproductive health & rights (SRHR) was launched at Nieuwspoort in The Hague. Hosted by the Dutch Global Health Alliance (DGHA) and the SRHR platform, this initiative aims to maintain the Netherlands’ leadership role on global health and SRHR by bringing parliamentarians from a broad range of political parties together to stand up for these issues. After dynamic discussions and reflections, the parliamentarians made their commitment to global health and SRHR official by signing up as members of the new multiparty initiative. Eight political parties have joined the initiative, reaffirming that health not only transcends borders, it also transcends politics.
DGHA chair Rosana Lescrauwaet (Cordaid) and SRHR-platform coordinator Eefke Deneer (Rutgers) kicked off the session by sharing why Dutch leadership on global health and SRHR is indispensable for achieving goals on sustainable development.
Co-chairs of the multiparty initiative – Roelien Kamminga (VVD) and Sarah Dobbe (SP) – followed with their opening remarks.
Roelien reiterated the importance of keeping global health and SRHR on the agenda:“We have to share our knowledge and try to support women who were not born here and have bigger challenges. We have good hope that we have sent a signal to this government that these are important topics and that we have to keep putting them on the agenda.” Sarah added: “All over the world people are pushing back on women’s rights. They’re pushing back on sexual freedom and on SRHR. It is so inspiring here today, because I think it is very important that we share these experiences with each other and develop strategies to cope with them.”
Followed by this, a video was presented with four experts raising their voice addressing the essential role of the Dutch government in investments in global health and SRHR. See the video HERE.
Advancing SRHR, pandemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance
The opening was followed by two thematic sessions. In the first session on Advancing Dutch leadership on sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, Elizabeth Sully (Guttmacher Institute) gave the audience insights into the impact of Dutch funding for SRHR. She shared the main findings from the Guttmacher Institute’s newly released report ‘Just the Numbers’:“The Dutch government has proven itself through these investments to be a true champion of SRHR globally, but any cuts to ODA [official development assistance] risk tarnishing this reputation if SRHR funding is at stake”.
Reflecting on the Guttmacher report, Mukami Marete (UHAI) and Jelle Postma (Justice for Prosperity) discussed the challenges SRHR movements are facing, highlighting the push from anti-gender and anti-rights movements. Mukami said: “There has been a consistent push from anti-gender and anti-right movements, who are very well coordinated and very well strategized. Over the years, the LGBTQ movements and sex workers movements have been organizing. And achievements have happened. All the investments that have been made in these communities are at risk of going down the drain, and therefore it is critical that we have this conversation, in particular on what the Dutch government can do.”
In the second session on Pandemic preparedness and Antimicrobial Resistance, Constance Schultsz (Amsterdam UMC/AIGHD) and Vijayashree Yellapa (KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation) highlighted the Netherlands’ role in global health leadership and the need for sustainable funding to tackle antimicrobial resistance. Constance reiterated: “During the Covid pandemic we have all experienced that microorganisms ignore borders and that we should collectively work together to prevent these microorganisms with pandemic potential to emerge. It also has demonstrated the need for solidarity and collaboration when it comes to limiting the spread of emerging infectious disease threats.”
“Though we call it a silent pandemic, AMR claims 1.27 million lives every year. The situation is dire and the implications are far reaching… We have learned from the Covid pandemic that no country is safe until every country health system is prepared to tackle AMR and multidrug-resistant TB…”, claimed Dr. Yellapa.
Responding to the panel, Jo-Angeline Kalambo (Global Fund) added: “We really cannot emphasize enough how the Netherlands’ support and commitment to global health is very, very crucial at a time that we’re dealing with many global health issues.”
Vania Kibui (Amref Health Africa) concluded the event with a powerful message:
“For a lot of us as in the Global South, we don’t become advocates because there is nothing better to do, but because staying silent means letting injustice win. And for you all, as you have deliberations when you leave this room, about what to invest in, I would like you to remember that you’re investing in advocates like myself, who are actually working in their communities and with their governments to strengthen the systems so everybody can live in a safe and healthy environment and they have the capacity to live the best version of their lives.”
Eight political parties commit to global health and SRHR
Parliamentarians officially committed to the multiparty initiative by signing up at the end of the launch. The parliamentarians present at the event added their signatures to the commitment board, joining the four parliamentarians who signed ahead of the launch. In total, parliamentarians from eight political parties signed up to the MPI, including Roelien Kamminga (VVD), Sarah Dobbe (SP), Femke Zeedijk (NSC), Danielle Hirsch (GL/PvdA), Marieke Koekkoek (Volt), Derk Boswijk (CDA), Wieke Paulusma (D66) and Ines Kostic (PvdD).
Roelien Kamminga, Sarah Dobbe, Femke Zeedijk and Danielle Hirsch not only showed their commitment through the signing of the commitment board, but also through their powerful speeches throughout the launch.
We look back on a successful launch and look forward to continuing the discussions in subsequent MPI events. Keep an eye out for news about this.
We look back on a successful launch and look forward to continuing the discussions in subsequent MPI events. Keep an eye out for news about this.
Watch the recording of the livestream HERE.