Across the world, people of African descent continue to endure glaring inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights, economic opportunity and political representation.
Higher rates of maternal death and adolescent pregnancy among women and girls of African descent rooted in historical patterns of race-based reproductive discrimination continue – and often go unaddressed.
This year, as we mark the start of the second International Decade for People of African Descent, we have a pivotal opportunity to take concrete actions to end racism, reach reproductive justice and secure the full human rights of people of African descent worldwide.
Reproductive justice requires securing sexual and reproductive health for Afrodescendent women and youth. To achieve equity and human rights, including in reproductive health, the legacies of colonialism, slavery and systemic neglect must be dismantled. We must advance universal, high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, rights and choices, from comprehensive sexuality education to contraception to pre- and postnatal care, while ensuring cultural competency and promoting gender equality and human rights.
Securing reproductive justice also requires opening opportunities for Afrodescendent people to overcome poverty, including combating systemic racism, ensuring access to quality education and training, expanding access to emerging technologies such as AI, and promoting equal employment opportunities for Afrodescedent youth.
The collection of high-quality data, disaggregated by race, gender and age, is critical to identifying and addressing persistent sexual and reproductive health disparities among women and girls of African descent. Recent funding cuts jeopardize long-standing data systems, highlighting the urgent need to secure sustainable investments and to develop alternative mechanisms for data collection and analysis.
Statistical visibility does more than reveal needs: It openly affirms the value, contributions and belonging of Afrodescendent women and girls across the world.
