Sex. Contraception. The couple. Children. See a doctor for an abortion.
For most of us who live in Quebec, these are decisions that are made individually and freely, and it is hard to imagine that it could be otherwise. But there are several social, economic and political factors that can affect a person’s ability to decide if, when and with whom to have sex; if, when and how many children she will have; when and why she sees a doctor. Abuse—sexual, psychological, or physical—is also a factor that can limit a person’s ability to exercise full autonomy over their body.
Magdalene Dorto, a 21-year-old Ghanaian feminist activist, knows full well that when a person cannot make these decisions freely, it can affect their health, life course, economic and political opportunities, and even survival. In Ghana, almost one in five girls is married before the age of 18, and many become mothers before they reach adulthood, according to the World Bank.
This is one of the reasons why Magdalene, along with other young people from Ghana and elsewhere in Africa, is actively involved in promoting sexual and reproductive rights in their community. In her work with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana, Magdalene trains young advocates who work to change harmful social norms within communities, but also with policy makers. Recently, Magdalene and other young people tackled the excessive taxation of menstrual products in Ghana, overtaxed because they are considered luxury goods, not basic necessities.
In Ghana as in Quebec, feminist and LGBTQ2SIA+ movements are working hard to defend the right of each person to make their own decisions about their health, sexuality and fertility. Abortion has been decriminalized in Canada for 35 years, but access to this essential health care remains difficult and complex for many women, particularly those from cultural, sexual and gender diversity or those living in outside major cities.
In our country, where the equality of all is cited as an example throughout the world, violence against women and girls is still far too frequent. We still have a long way to go. We share this journey with women, girls and people of sexual and gender diversity from all continents. As our rights progress and setbacks, one constant remains: the feminist and LGBTQ2SIA+ movements will never give up. And we will be there to support them.
This year marks twenty years of a major step forward in gender equality: the signing of the Maputo Protocol. The first regional legal instrument specifically focused on the promotion and protection of women’s rights in Africa, it includes in particular provisions on the elimination of female genital mutilation, the protection of women in armed conflicts, but above all on the right of women to abortion.
In contrast, this year also marks the first anniversary of the invalidation of Roe v. wade on abortion rights in the United States. A reminder that progress remains fragile and can escape us at any time. That we still live in a world where a handful of individuals — mostly men — can decide what millions of women and girls can or cannot do with their bodies.
Oxfam-Québec is proud to work with activist organizations and individuals who defend bodily autonomy for everyone. This week in Rwanda, more than 6,000 activists, researchers and decision-makers are gathered at the Women Deliver conference to reflect on the best ways to protect and defend our rights. Oxfam-Québec is also participating to support young champions like Magdalene and other partner organizations who are also mobilizing so that everyone, wherever they are in the world, is free to make their own decisions about their body. . We believe this is essential to combat inequality and poverty.