Johannesburg, 05 March 2025: Activists from around Southern Africa kick off a two day Summit that will feature the launch of the 15th edition of the #VoiceandChoice Barometer at a critical moment for women’s rights globally.
The return of Donald Trump as President of the United States (US) has reshaped the global landscape for women’s health and empowerment. His presidency has been characterised by significant policy shifts, including the US withdrawing from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Paris Agreement, the abrupt suspension of all foreign aid through USAID, and the halting of vital programmes like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
These actions have profound consequences for global health and climate initiatives, and this has severely affected HIV programmes, access to contraceptives, and reproductive health services across the SADC region.
For South Africa, the Trump administration’s USAID freeze has had devastating effects, cutting off access to contraception for nearly one million women each week. It has also resulted in crippling financial reductions for key institutions such as the South African Medical Research Council, disrupting vital health research and services that countless individuals depend on.
Across the SADC region, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) face mounting challenges, including the impacts of climate crises such as droughts, floods, and cyclones, alongside political instability such as in the DRC, persistent violence, and economic downturns. Despite these obstacles, there are promising developments, such as the African Union’s adoption of the Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG) and SADC’s renewed commitment to its SRHR strategy.
The 15th edition of the #VoiceandChoice Barometer provides an in-depth analysis of 100 indicators that reflect the state of reproductive health and rights across the 16 SADC countries. It evaluates key areas, including menstrual health, family planning and maternal health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR), safe abortion, HIV and AIDS, gender-based violence, harmful practices, and sexual diversity. This edition highlights progress and persistent gaps, revealing that advancements in SRHR and women’s rights across the region have been uneven and slow.
The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for marginalised groups such as young women and adolescents. As with all previous barometers, the comprehensive analysis in this edition establishes a foundation for informed discussions on preserving the progress made so far and advancing the strengthening of SRHR policies and practices, in line with the SADC SRHR Strategy 2019-2030 goals, to ensure equitable access to services for all.
The Barometer also features 22 case studies from Voice and Choice partners in eight Southern African countries. These initiatives are supported by 38 organisations funded through the Voice and Choice Southern Africa Fund (VCSAF), managed by Gender Links and financed by Amplify Change from 2022 to 2024. The fund empowers civil society organisations in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East to advocate for improved SRHR policies and actions, particularly when access is most constrained.
The launch of the Barometer coincides with a two-day Linking and Learning summit from 5-6 March, which includes over 60 presentations from grantees of the VCSAF and the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Fund (WVL) – Multi-Year Core (MYC). This gathering provides a platform for partners and grantees to share insights, celebrate achievements, and enhance collaborative efforts to advance gender equality and social justice across the region. Adjudicators will evaluate presentations, with awards recognising the most impactful projects and programmes.
For more information on the 2024 Barometer, please email Kevin Chiramba at justice@genderlinks.org.za. For more information on the summit please contact Nomthi on +27662664001.