Federal Administration admin.ch
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
SDC – on location worldwide

Visit Swiss Cooperation Office websites.

Switzerland
Switzerland 
Search:

Sexual and reproductive health - Imperative for the development of society

ReproduktiveGesundheit.jpg

Reproductive health and the related choices for women, men and young people are part of the human rights and imperative for the attainment of gender equality. Reproductive health involves having a safe and satisfying sex life, as well as being able to have children and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so.

Key facts
• Every year, four million infants die in the first few months of life, accounting for nearly 40 % of all mortality among under-fives.
•

Every year, 60 million women give birth at home without the assistance of a healthcare professional.

Every year, approximately eight million women experience pregnancy complications that could have been avoided, and which prove fatal for more than half a million of them. In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman's risk of dying of pregnancy-related complications is 1 in16, compared with 1 in 2,800 for a woman living in a developed country. In most cases, the flouting or lack of fundamental rights means they die "through negligence", because it is difficult or impossible for dedicated health services to reach the expectant or recent mothers and their babies.

The SDC focus: A gender-oriented approach

That is why the SDC pays special attention to gender-oriented approaches in promoting mother-and-child health and reproductive rights, contributing to the development of integrated reproductive health services that also take account of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. It also backs efforts to curb violence against women, including female circumcision.

When it comes to practical projects in the field, the Agency builds on its experience, in the area of reproductive and mother-and-child health as essential components for the further development of any society.
Theme contact: Nathalie Vesco

Additional Information and Documents

Documents
  • SDC Health Policy 2003-2010
    Download (PDF, 501 KB) :  [de]   [en]   [fr]   [es]   [ru]  
  • Article on gynaecological health, published in issue no. 4/2009 of Un seul monde, pages 22-23
    Download (PDF, 1731 KB) :  [de]   [fr]   [it]  
  • Article of demographic growth and family planning, published in issue no. 3/2009 of Un seul monde
    Download (PDF, 239 KB) :  [de]   [fr]   [it]  

Internal Links
  • UNFPA
    Created in 1969, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the organization within the UN system...

External Links