Agree to Differ

[

] 75

since 2012, with a view to building learned understanding

of the challenges and seeking appropriate jurisprudence to

clarify relevant religious positions.

One such consultation, although oriented towards the

context of Afghanistan, deliberately sought out learning

from other community-based dynamics in the same region,

and involved religious scholars from Muslim-majority

countries. The other was a national-level conference

which was attended by local religious scholars. The

resource persons included authoritative religious leaders

from Pakistan, Iran, the Philippines (state of Mindanao),

Indonesia, Malaysia and India. Among their deliberations

were shared experiences of their respective attempts to

seek to correct misperceptions and misrepresentation about

Islamic law. Their Fatwas (religious decrees) were then

shared with Afghan religious leaders and officials from the

MoHRA. The rich discussions at the end of these consulta-

tions also led to a declaration supporting family planning

and birth spacing, signed onto by all these Muslim partici-

pants. Similar discussions in five regions of Afghanistan

involving more religious community leaders are currently

underway. UNFPA is committed to continuing to support

the ministries in their collaboration with religious commu-

nity leaders, to advocate against harmful practices such as

early marriage. Partnering with faith-based organizations

is a means of engaging with the social and cultural context

in which decisions are made which impact on the lives

of Afghan girls and women, and are seen as intrinsically

linked to their ability to claim and enjoy their rights.

Breaking through the stereotype of religion as an impediment to sexual and reproductive health and rights

In 2014, during the United Nations General Assembly, as world leaders

met to discuss the post-2015 development priorities, UNFPA invited

its partner religious leaders and faith-based organizations, from

every region of the world and representing all major faith traditions,

to attend a side event explicitly around the most contentious set of

issues – sexual and reproductive health and rights. While they were

gathered to discuss how faith can mobilize communities and is a driver

to safeguard reproductive rights, the faith-based partners also came

together to develop a statement that is historic in nature, unequivocal

in tone and courageous in content. This is what they said:

A Call to Action

Faith for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights in

the Post 2015 Development Agenda

As we stand together under the auspices of the United Nations, we, people

of faith, representatives of diverse faith-based development organizations,

theological and other education centers and ecumenical bodies, recognize

our role as cultural agents of change and providers of social services at

the community, national, regional and global levels. We acknowledge our

responsibility to safeguard the dignity and human rights of all people with

our actions, our words and through our respective platforms.

We note – and are grateful for - the many achievements since the

establishment of the Millennium Development Goals. We stand today,

facing critical challenges. Too many of our communities still suffer the

indignities of stigma, discrimination, violence and multiple forms of

injustice. When such violations happen in the name of religion, culture,

or tradition, we are aggrieved and hurt, as well as challenged to respond.

Not in our name should any mother die while giving birth. Not in

our name should any girl, boy, woman or man be abused, violated, or

killed. Not in our name should a girl child be deprived of her education,

be married, be harmed or abused. Not in our name should anyone be

denied access to basic health care, nor should a child or an adolescent

be denied knowledge of and care for her/his body. Not in our name

should any person be denied their human rights.

We affirm that sexual and reproductive health are part of human

rights, and as such, must be guaranteed by governments. We note in

particular the importance of preventing gender-based discrimination,

violence and harmful practices; upholding gender justice; ensuring that

every pregnancy is wanted and that every birth is safe; providing age-

appropriate sexuality education; promoting the health, education and

participation of youth and adolescents; preventing, treating and caring

for people with HIV/AIDS; supporting family planning; and respecting the

human body.

We hold these matters to be necessary and relevant for a true

transformation of our societies, and central to the sustainability of any

development agenda.

We underline, and call for deliberate attention to the importance of

strategic partnerships between the United Nations system and faith-

based organizations, in collaboration with civil society organizations,

to facilitate dialogue and implementation around the sustainable

development goals, and uphold human dignity in all conditions of life.

Therefore, as the United Nations convenes our governments to

consider what the next global development priorities should be, we,

people of faith, call upon the United Nations system and Member States,

to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights be

made central to the Post 2015 sustainable development agenda.

United Nations Secretariat

New York

September 19, 2014

Many communities maintain values, norms and attitudes deeply influenced

by religious paradigms of one sort or another

Image: UNFPA’s Programme on FGM, 2014

gree

iffer