Azerbaijan and USAID Discuss Legal Framework for Reproductive Health

USAID Reproductive Health and Family Planning ACQUIRE Project, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan Ministry of Health, the National Reproductive Health Office, and parliamentarians, hosted a roundtable discussion on the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Reproductive Health (RH) and Family Planning Services on 21st April 2009.  Participants included the President of Engender Health, two Parliamentarians, and the Director of the National Reproductive Health Office.  The goal of the event was to discuss the key family planning aspects of the draft RH law with senior health officials, health administrators from the districts and representatives of the nongovernmental organizations. Outcomes of the roundtable will be reflected in the draft RH law which will be presented in the spring session of the Parliament for review and will help strengthen advocacy for its adoption. 

Worldwide, 200 million women who want to use safe and effective family planning methods are unable to do so because they lack access to information and safe services or the support of their husbands and communities. The international community has agreed that reproductive choice is a basic human right.  But without access to relevant information, high-quality services, and safe contraceptives, that right cannot be exercised. This new RH Law, once adopted by the Parliament, will lay the foundation for the implementation of Azerbaijan’s recently approved Reproductive Health Strategy.

Source: http://www.usaid.gov