Assembly members get updated data, enhance knowledge on sexual reproductive health, rights |03 November 2021
Speaker Mancienne (Photo: Jude Morel)
Members of the National Assembly on Friday attended a half-day education and awareness session at Savoy Hotel during which they received updated information relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV and Aids.
This is in order to better inform them on issues relating to the gap that exist in Seychelles between the age of consent to sex and access to contraceptives and also access to health rights and services.
The aim is to help them better reflect around shortfalls and to reinforce their deliberations in the House on two related forthcoming Motions addressing the gap between the age of consent to sex, access to contraceptives, access to health rights and services in order to pave the way for amendments in policies and legislations.
The session was organised by the National Assembly Committee on Communicable Diseases, HIV/Aids andSexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), under the aegis of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, SRHR governance project sponsored by Sweden.
Information received included recent statistics to enable them to understand the objectives of the two imminent Motions.
The chairperson of the Committee on Communicable Diseases, HIV/Aids & SRHR, Hon. Rosie Bistoquet, spoke about how HIV and SRHR are inseparably linked worldwide including in Seychelles, where HIV is largely transmitted through sex often in a context where various forms of consensual adult sex such as same-sex sexual conduct and sex work, are criminalised and deeply stigmatised. Moreover, individuals may not have to access quality information, care and support that is tailored to their needs in relation to both SRH and HIV services. Integrating SRH and HIV-related services can accordingly help to close critical gaps that limit access to quality of care for women, girls and key populations.
“By fortifying access, we must adopt an approach on SRHR which will help eradicate stigma and discrimination which remains a significant barrier to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.”
Hon. Bistoquet also shared that Seychelles has a concentrated HIV epidemic with high levels of HIV among certain key populations at higher risk of exposure including youth aged between 15 and 24 years, people who inject drugs (PWID), men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers (SW).
“The country has a good performance with regard to impact and process indicators for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However there are some gaps which must be reviewed to ensure harmonisation of laws, regulations, protocols and develop specific targeted programmes or interventions.”
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Roger Mancienne, also spoke about the role of the parliamentarians in support of SADC.
“National Parliaments, through their health committees, are encouraged to organise activities spanning the spectrum of the governance project. This is aimed to inform and educate the population, including Members of Parliaments (MPs) themselves. Knowledge gained through various forums, including capacity building workshops, empower MPs to promote the SRHR, HIV and Aids agenda and to contribute to the fight against HIV and Aids at the parliamentary level though Private Members Bills and Motions and the reviewing, amending and enacting of legislation.”
This initiative, he added, is motivated by the realisation that it is pivotal for MPs and stakeholders involved in the SRHR, HIV and Aids landscape to become very conversant with the functioning of the State’s governance structures, in particular with the operations of Parliament as a high level institution vested with key oversight, legislative, budgetary and representative functions. Moreover, there is a need to improve the understanding of the significant role of the government represented by ministries or other entities.
Both Hon. Mancienne and Hon. Bistoquet remarked that this capacity-building session has come at an opportune time to further engage all stakeholders in the middle of this pandemic of Covid-19 to support the specific roles the parliamentarians play in addressing HIV and SRHR related challenges in Seychelles.
Other topics talked about were: Youth Health Centre increasing Access to SRHR services by adolescents; Increase Access to HIV/Aids treatment; Reduction of Stigma & Discrimination of People living with HIV/Aids; Existing Laws Preventing access to HIV/Aids and SRHR Services by Key Partners in Seychelles.
Vidya Gappy
