By Shem Oluchiri.
On 29th – 30th May 2025, Faith to Action Network was honoured to participate in a high-level regional dialogue that brought together East African Community (EAC) duty bearers, civil society organizations, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. This transformative forum focused on advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the EAC region and accelerating collective action toward health equity.
The discussion centered on key priorities:
- The urgent need to pass the EAC SRHR Bill and the significant regional impact it could achieve.
- Bridging legal, policy, and budgetary gaps that hinder effective SRHR implementation.
- Advancing maternal health, youth access to SRHR, and ending harmful practices.
- Promoting a harmonised framework for SRHR across EAC member states.
Participants included representatives from the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), regional civil society actors, and SRHR champions from Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the DRC. Together, they examined pressing challenges such as high maternal mortality rates, limited access to age-appropriate sexuality education, and the need for inclusive policies on assistive reproductive technologies.
Through a series of interactive roundtables, panel sessions, joint plenaries, and value clarification exercises, the dialogue generated actionable strategies to strengthen SRHR frameworks at both national and regional levels.
A resounding theme throughout the dialogue was the importance of intersectoral collaboration. Progress on SRHR in East Africa depends on sustained partnerships among religious and faith leaders, policymakers, civil society, and international actors. The proposed EAC SRHR Bill represents a historic opportunity to enshrine health rights into regional law and safeguard the well-being of all East Africans.
As Faith to Action Network, we remain committed to working with diverse stakeholders to ensure that SRHR is realized, protected, and promoted across the region.
