YSW advances regional dialogue on SRHR in Arusha

Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) led a pivotal regional conversation on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in October in Arusha, Tanzania, in partnership with the EALA Women Caucus and the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR).

The session aimed to deepen legislators’ understanding of SRHR policy frameworks, enhance analysis of the EAC SRHR Bill, 2024, and build regional alignment ahead of parliamentary debates in Partner States.

Discussions around the Bill were lively and, at times, contentious. Clauses on adolescent access to SRHR information, family planning, and termination of pregnancy sparked the most debate.

While civil society actors lauded the Bill’s alignment with global health commitments, some legislators voiced concerns over potential clashes with cultural and religious values.

Clauses 8–10, for example, call for age-appropriate SRHR education in partnership with schools and faith-based institutions — a move praised as progressive yet perceived by some as challenging traditional norms. Clauses 16 and 17, which address termination of pregnancy and post-abortion care, proved particularly polarizing. Delegations from Burundi and parts of Tanzania raised both constitutional and religious objections, highlighting the sensitive terrain legislators must navigate.

Clause 18, affirming reproductive autonomy and mandating access to family planning, also raised questions about adolescent consent and parental involvement, sparking intense debate. By the close of the meeting, the Bill was endorsed with amendments, as several delegations called for additional national consultations.

EALA emphasised that continued dialogue guided by evidence and grounded in respect for diverse perspectives, will be key to bridging moral, cultural, and constitutional divides across the Partner States.