At the launch of State of the World Population Report and World Population Day Commemoration 2021 by the United Nations Population Fund-UNFPA, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Hon. Manty Tarawallie reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending #SGBV, harmful traditional practices, and preventable maternal mortality by 2030— “We are fully convinced that addressing the issues of Rights and Gender Equality is a transformational leverage towards the sustainable development goals.”
Jocelyn Fenard, the Officer-In-Charge, UNFPA, said, the theme for this year’s celebration “My body is my own: Claiming the right to autonomy and self-determination”, is bold and sensitive, and it calls for audacious and ambitious commitments.
Bodily autonomy, he said, is having the power and agency to make choices, without fear of violence or having someone else decide for us. “Bodily autonomy, however, is not simply about controlling one’s body, it also encompasses the right to make decisions affecting one’s life and future”, he emphasized.