Government of the Netherlands

Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation

Sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to safe abortion, are and will remain a core priority of Dutch development policy. And that’s why I’m proud and honoured to announce that I am now a SheDecides Champion. The Netherlands is proud to be the very first Champion of SheDecides ever back in 2017 and has been a solid ally since. Today’s commitment signals the continued support for the important work of SheDecides and, on this day, that support is more necessary than ever before.

The right to decide over your own body should not be a privilege. It’s a basic human right and deserves protection yet worldwide millions of girls and women still cannot decide over their own bodies and their own futures and this means that they cannot decide if, when, and with whom they want to have children. I’ve seen why this matters firsthand in Sudan where women are denied these choices every single day with many hospitals no longer functioning even safe childbirth or basic reproductive healthcare has become out of reach for many. And globally, we’re seeing a rising tide of opposition to these rights. The anti-rights movement is growing rapidly and SRHR and gender equality are under greater pressure every day. Now is the time to act.

Being a Champion means standing up and speaking out for every woman and girl’s rights to bodily autonomy; to decide freely about her body, her life and her future. That is exactly why this movement is Champions willing to keep standing up and speaking out so that everywhere SheDecides her future.

Pascalle Grotenhuis

Ambassador - Women’s Rights & Gender Equality and Director of Social Development at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As the Netherlands, we believe every girl and every woman should have control over her own body and life. Without question. We are also convinced that this is one of the smartest things any country can do.

Investing in women and girls means tapping into a huge amount of potential. It means investing in millions of potential doctors, entrepreneurs, politicians and scientists. It means developing the leaders we need to tackle the global crises of the 21st century. Only by working together, speaking out and acting on our promises will we get to a future where SheDecides!

How the Netherlands is working so SheDecides

The Netherlands regards the right to make one’s own decisions about relationships, sex and the use of contraceptives as crucial for sustainable development. As part of the Netherlands policy on development cooperation, we therefore invest in universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights including in relation to HIV/AIDS. We do so by investing in meaningful participation of young people and their access to comprehensive sexuality education; by improving access to health products including modern contraceptives; by increasing access to quality sexual and reproductive health services including safe abortion care; and finally by advancing the respect for sexual and reproductive rights.

The Netherlands & the ICPD Agenda

In 1994, 179 countries came together and adopted the ground-breaking Program of Action at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt. For the first time in history, countries made agreements on an individual’s freedom of choice and reproductive health and rights.

The ICPD Programme of Action has from then on been a critical part of the Netherlands’ development cooperation efforts. Improving sexual and reproductive health and rights has consistently remained a top priority.

Access to safe and legal abortion

Unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Even though this is entirely preventable. Access to safe abortion care is an essential health service for women and girls. The Netherlands therefore invests in access to safe abortion as an integral part of sexual and reproductive health and rights. We do so by supporting organisations such as Ipas, SAAF, IPPF and PSI and by engaging in silent and vocal diplomacy to promote access to safe abortion wherever and whenever we can.

Partnership with UNFPA

The Netherlands provides an annual core contribution to UNFPA, which allows UNFPA to fully apply their unique expertise where it is most needed to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. This includes investing in access to comprehensive sexuality education and contraceptives, as well as ending maternal mortality, gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriage. In addition to our core contribution, the Netherlands invests in UNFPA’s Supplies fund, which aims to fulfil the need for modern contraceptives; as well as in the UNFPA/UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage.

Ending child, early and forced marriage

Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is a harmful practice and a violation of rights. It robs girls and women from control over their lives, bodies and futures. It leaves them more vulnerable to violence, disrupts their education and prevents them from reaping the benefits of socioeconomic development.

Governments around the world have committed to eliminate CEFM by 2030, as part of the SDGs. Despite all efforts, this target is not on track, and COVID-19 worsened the situation.

To address CEFM, the Netherlands supports the Break Free! Alliance that combats this practice. We also lead Human Rights Council resolutions on this topic. In September 2021, this led to the adoption of a resolution focused on CEFM in context of crises and humanitarian contexts.

Youth Ambassador Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Bodily Autonomy and Gender Equality

The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs partners with youth-led organisation CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality for the Youth Ambassador programme. The Youth Ambassador is an independent position taken by a young person who has full access to policies and discussions within the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on SRHR, gender equality, and meaningful youth participation. The Youth Ambassador actively engages and consults with young people from the global South to share with policy makers, within the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as in international forums.

A good example is the Netherlands national statement during the 2022 UN Commission on Population and Development, which was written and presented by the Youth Ambassador, Laura Bas.

Read the statement on Government.nl or watch the video on Twitter.

WHENSHE DECIDES