The global pandemic has affected sexual and reproductive health, and there are problems on this topic in Serbia that need to be approached with much more attention, said Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic at the conference held on the occasion of World Population Day, which singled out health as one of the most important topics within population policy.
Problems in Serbia range from predominantly conservative birth control, risky sexual behavior of adolescents and young people, and unsatisfactory engagement in preserving the sexual and reproductive health of the entire population, especially vulnerable and marginalized categories. Commissioner especially pointed out that reproductive rights, as part of human rights, represent the right of individuals to freely decide about the birth and number of children, without discrimination or coerce. The consent implies confidentiality, privacy, and the right to bodily autonomy, ie the right of a woman to make her own choice about her body.
Commissioner pointed out that risky sexual and reproductive behavior of adolescents is of special importance from the aspect of public health and demographic development of the Republic of Serbia. Researches show that a large number of young people do not have basic knowledge about reproductive health and that their knowledge is scarcely obtained from peers or via the Internet, as well as that it is burdened with a series of prejudices. That is why the Commissioner has been emphasizing for years in her RARs that it is necessary to pay special attention to raising awareness and information about health risks and reproductive health, especially of children and youth, both boys and girls, and that it is necessary to introduce health and education on reproductive and sexual health, Commissioner concluded.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, the Ministry of Family Care and Demography, as well as the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser for the 2030 Agenda, also spoke at the conference organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
