Malawi: The Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) held a pivotal engagement with Members of Parliament at the Parliament Building in Lilongwe, focusing on the vital issue of expanding access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) for individuals of all ages across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. This significant event was organized under the theme, “Building a Core Bloc for SRHR Parliamentary Champions within SADC,” in collaboration with the SADC Parliamentary Forum SRHR Project, supported by Hivos Southern Africa.
The session featured presentations that highlighted various barriers girls, youth, and women face in accessing SRHR services, emphasizing the crucial role lawmakers can play in reinforcing policies and improving oversight. Deputy Clerk of Parliament (Procedural Services) Joseph Manzi praised the initiative, pointing out that overcoming challenges such as teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence necessitates robust partnerships between Parliament and SRHR stakeholders. Dr. Vivian Joseph, Head of the Health Cluster at SAYoF, articulated the initiative’s goal of accelerating equitable SRHR access across SADC countries. Additionally, Ms. Chimwemwe Kayange, Deputy Head of Gender and Young Women Development Cluster at SAYoF, briefed Members on legal and policy pathways to support young people’s SRHR. The meeting was also attended by the Members of SADC Youth Parliament representative for Malawi namely Honourable Thoko J. Mthiko and Honourable Hilda Macheso.
The engagement concluded with a plenary discussion, where Chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Anthony Masamba, led Members in a comprehensive dialogue, posing questions to deepen their understanding of SRHR issues and identify possible parliamentary actions. The Parliamentarians signed the #AccesstoConsent commitment joining the team of parliamentary advocates for SRHR in SADC region.
Adolescents and young people throughout the SADC region encounter significant legal and policy barriers to accessing SRHR services. While regional commitments exist, their national implementation remains fragmented and inadequate. In East and Southern Africa (ESA), youth face a myriad of legal, cultural, and systemic hurdles that impede their ability to exercise their health rights and bodily autonomy. Barriers such as legislation regarding the age of consent, the requirement for parental approval, stigma, and prevalent misconceptions within service delivery settings restrict access. The consequences of these barriers manifest in troubling statistics: rising HIV rates, increased instances of teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions leading to maternal mortality, higher school dropout rates, and the perpetuation of poverty cycles. These challenges obstruct the achievement of key commitments, including the ESA ministerial agreements, the SADC SRHR Strategy (2019-2030), the Maputo Protocol, as well as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to good health, well-being, and gender equality.
Despite existing national and regional commitments to bolster adolescent SRHR, the actual implementation often diverges from the realities that young people face. This is where parliamentarians can play a significant role; they are uniquely positioned to transform these commitments into enforceable laws and policies that dismantle barriers and ensure the health and future of the region’s youth. The gathering aims to bolster an ongoing regional campaign focused on strengthening policy adoption, fostering youth-led advocacy, and enhancing equitable access to SRHR services for all adolescents and young people, regardless of age.
In 2025, SAYoF, along with Hivos and in partnership with the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), organized a side session with parliamentarians during the SADC-PF Standing Committee Sessions in Johannesburg, South Africa. This initiative laid a foundation for further engagement on SRHR advocacy, particularly regarding issues of consent. Building on insights gained from previous discussions, the partners plan to actively engage parliamentarians in SADC region to advance these critical issues. As the region moves forward, the involvement of parliamentarians will be crucial in ensuring that SRHR services are accessible and equitable for all, paving the way for improved health outcomes and empowerment of the youth across SADC.
