Port-au-Prince, September 26, 2023 — Profamil marked, with the support of UNFPA, the United Nations Fund for Reproductive Health, World Contraception Day around the theme « The Power of Choices », in Port-au-Prince, September 26, 2023.

« Today our young generations face enormous challenges involving responsibilities, civic obligations and obligatory commitments that our organizations must support, » indicated the founding member of Profamil, Edith Lataillade.

« We must continue and strengthen our partnerships to enable them to meet these challenges, » she stressed.

The Reproductive Health Specialist, Yves Thermidor, who spoke on behalf of the UNFPA Representative, recalled that one of the axes chosen for reducing maternal mortality is family planning.

« UNFPA remains convinced that if women can do the right thing, without any form of discrimination, the transformative goal of Zero Unmet Need will be achieved across the world, » he added.

Laurent Beaugé, who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Public Health and Population, Alex Larsen, indicated that the Ministry and the Government have the responsibility to make available to women, young people, men, of all classes social services, a range of contraceptive options to enable them to make informed decisions taking into account social and cultural reality.

Gonzague Désir, who spoke on behalf of the Minister for the Status of Women and Women's Rights, argued that « marriage and early motherhood seriously compromise women's chances in terms of education and employment. »

« In general, young people receive an education that rarely requires them to respect the autonomy of women, » Désir said. It was from this observation, he stressed, that World Contraception Day was created in 2007.

The commemoration of this date took place around the partial results of a Profamil study on the rights to sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and women in a context of crisis, insecurity and precariousness.

Young people of both sexes – from different organizations – have, through theatrical performances, raised awareness of the need to adopt a family planning method so that every pregnancy is wanted.

They denounced the discrimination they face because of their youth. They demanded their participation in the forums in which it is emphasized that young people represent the future of Haiti.

Text: Roody Beauchamp, Intern / Reviewed by V.S.

Photo: Michael Isaac Junior Ambroise