Reproductive and Sexual Health Rights

Every girl has the right to have control over her body.

Many girls are robbed of the right to make their own decisions – from what happens to their bodies, to when and to who they marry. We work to ensure girls and young women realise their right to sexual and reproductive health, and have control over their lives and bodies.

An estimated 21 million adolescent girls give birth every year in low and middle income countries (WHO). Teenage pregnancy can end a girl’s education, and give them adult responsibilities before they’re ready.

Pregnancy and birth related complications are also the leading cause of death for adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 in the developing world (United Nations Population Fund).

When it comes to periods, girls face taboos, misinformation and often lack affordable menstrual products and access to clean, private toilets. As a result many girls are forced to skip school or even drop out altogether.

500 million girls and women globally lack the facilities to properly manage their periods (World Bank).

How Plan International Australia are helping

At the grassroots level we work with young people, their families, and local partners to ensure that their sexual health needs are met. We directly involve young women and men, helping them to identify problems and find solutions.

We’ve delivered safe and sustainable period products to women in South East Asia. We’ve also supplied hygiene kits to families impacted by emergencies and COVID-19, which include sanitary items to help women and girls manage their periods.

We also champion policies and funding to improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health services and information in every context.

When I found out that Plan International was going to help us with a hygiene kit that has menstrual pads, body soap, washing soap for clothes, and other products we do not have, I cried. It made me emotional because it was a blessing for many of us.”
  • Deolinda, 19, Mozambique

Ending period shame

No one should be held back because of their period. Yet, for many girls and young women, the stigma and shame attached to menstruation can place their physical, sexual, and mental health at risk.

Many girls around the world have little access to sanitary products and adequate toilet facilities at school, which makes managing their period incredibly difficult. It restricts their movements when they have their period, and this affects their attendance and performance at school.

Taboos, myths and shame surrounding menstruation can also lead to teasing, shaming and exclusion from daily activities, which all have a negative effect on a girl’s sense of dignity.

Roughly 800 million people between the ages of 15 and 49 are menstruating right now. And despite the fact these 800 million people menstruate every month, many still feel embarrassed and uncomfortable when it comes to just talking about it.

Periods are a universal fact of life wherever you live, which is why it’s time to smash this damaging stigma and end all forms of period shame.

Period stigma is keeping girls out of school.

Teaching girls in Zambia about their sexual and reproductive health and rights

In Zambia, deeply entrenched social and cultural norms often normalise violence against women and girls and even make it a legitimate and acceptable practice. These traditions are handed down from generation to generation, with older women teaching younger girls that they are inferior to men and must tolerate all kinds of violence and abuse at the hands of their husbands.

But now, things are starting to change. Plan International is working with traditional initiators in the country, whose role is to guide girls into womanhood.

Chabala Siame, a community development facilitator, explains that the women who conduct the initiation ceremonies are receiving training to learn how they can continue preparing girls to be women without putting them at risk.

Before, they were telling girls to persevere even if they got beaten by their partner. Now they are teaching them that there is zero tolerance for violence, and that boys have no right to violate a girl or to rape her, and that girls can and should report such cases
  • Chabala” says

The initiators are also involving boys in the training. With high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended early pregnancies in Zambia, teaching both girls and boys how to make informed decisions about sex and developing healthy relationships has never been so important.

“Before they would tell girls who had starting menstruating that they should not play with boys, and not allow boys to touch them because then they could get pregnant. Now they teach them about contraceptives and the right to make their own decisions about their bodies,” says Chabala.

Our impact in 2023 financial year

Launched the Oky app in March 2023
Launched the Oky app in March 2023
together with UNICEF, Plan Philippines and key government agencies in the Philippines to allow girls and young women have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information.
Supported 1,210 pregnant women
Supported 1,210 pregnant women
access antenatal care and 13,338 people in 38 communities across Laos access, maintain and use basic sanitation.
Supported 1,131 people in Indonesia
Supported 1,131 people in Indonesia
in receiving information related to pregnancy care, early stimulation, exclusive breastfeeding, maternal and child health and nutrition through our digital Masmirah platform.

Learn more in our annual impact report.

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