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SWOP 2021

State of the World Population 2021

State of World Population Report

Somewhere today at this moment…
…an adolescent girl is waking up. She’ll discover she is expected to undergo a rite of passage,
forever to be wounded by female genital mutilation.
…another girl is being told to get dressed because today will be her wedding day. She’s
scarcely 13 years of age.
…and a woman has been walking for a couple of hours to her village health centre to seek
contraception. When she arrives she’ll be sternly informed that there will be no prescription
without her husband’s consent.
All around the world, women and girls are not in control over their bodies and their lives.
Yet, women have a right to make their own decisions about their bodies.
Yet how many women can actually claim they have the power to exercise that right?
The new UNFPA State of World Population report shows that, in countries where we have data,
nearly half of women lack the power to make their own decisions…
...About whether to have sex with their partner.
...About whether to use contraception.
...And about whether to see a doctor.
Often these decisions are made or influenced by others, whether partners, families, societies or
even the government.
The right to the autonomy of our bodies means that we must have the power and agency to
make choices, without fear of violence or having someone else decide for us.
Intertwined with it is the right to bodily integrity, where people live free from physical acts to
which they do not consent.
For many people, but especially women and girls, life is fraught with violations to their bodily
autonomy and integrity.
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We see this when a lack of contraceptive choices leads to unplanned pregnancy.
We see this in the terrible bargain made to exchange unwanted sex for a home and food.
We see this in life-derailing practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage.
Autonomy is violated when people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities cannot
walk down a street without fearing assault or humiliation, or when people with disabilities are
stripped of their rights to self-determination, to be free from violence, to enjoy a safe and
satisfying sexual life.
Some violations, such as rape, may be criminalized but not always prosecuted. Other violations
go unchallenged because they are reinforced by community norms, practices and laws.
The right to bodily autonomy is violated when a husband or partner forces a woman to have an
abortion or impregnates her against her will.
Bodily autonomy is violated by practices like…
...so-called “corrective rape”...,
...so-called “honour killings”...
...and so-called “virginity tests.”
This list goes on and on.
And what was bad has become worse, now with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further
diminished women’s autonomy by increasing sexual violence, new barriers to health care,
unplanned pregnancies, and job and education losses.
Although there are many impediments to bodily autonomy, gender inequality is perhaps the
most insidious and pervasive one.
Gender-unequal norms and attitudes lead to power imbalances in relationships that restrict
women’s decisions, particularly when it comes to sex and pregnancy, or that drive the
expectation that women must defer to their husbands or partners in all aspects of their lives.
Real, sustained progress therefore depends on uprooting gender inequality and all forms of
discrimination, and transforming the social and economic structures that maintain them. In this,
more men must become allies. Many more men should commit to stepping away from patterns
of privilege and dominance that profoundly undercut bodily autonomy.
While a bold goal, gender equality is also an internationally agreed one, as the fifth Sustainable Development Goal, and as the purpose of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 25th anniversary of which we are observing this year. All countries can do more to achieve gender equality, since no country is there yet Governments have a lead role to play in reaching that goal. By fulfilling their obligations under human rights treaties, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, or CEDAW, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments can alter the social, political, institutional and economic structures that reinforce and thrive on gender-unequal norms. Bodily autonomy is a foundation for the enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to health and the right to live free from violence. Institutions and leaders are therefore obligated to extend all the support and resources required for us to carry out our choices in a meaningful
way. But we must look beyond obligations, to opportunities: A woman who has control over her body is more likely to be empowered in other spheres of her life. She gains not only in terms of autonomy, but also through advances in health and education, income and safety. She is more likely to thrive, and so is her family. When we see these benefits accrue across whole societies, we understand that communities and countries will flourish when all people are empowered to make their own informed decisions
about their bodies and futures. Realizing autonomy will help us realize a world of greater justice and human well-being, which benefits us all.

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Kiribati Social Development Indicator Survey 2018-19 Findings Report

Kiribati Social Development Indicator Survey 2018-19 Findings Report

Technical Reports and Document

The Kiribati Social Development Indicator Survey (KSIDS) was carried out in 2018-19 by Kiribati National Statistics Office in collaboration with Ministry of Health and other government ministries, as part of the Global MICS Programme. Technical support was provided by the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Pacific Community (SPC) with government funding and financial support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), UNFPA and UNICEF. The Global MICS Programme was developed by UNICEF in the 1990s as an international multi-purpose household survey programme to support countries in collecting internationally comparable data on a wide range of indicators on the situation of children and women. MICS
surveys measure key indicators that allow countries to generate data for use in policies, programmes, and national development plans, and to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other internationally agreed upon commitments. The objective of this report is to facilitate the timely dissemination and use of results from the KSDIS. The report contains detailed information on the survey methodology, and all standard MICS tables. The report is accompanied by a series of Statistical Snapshots of the main findings
of the survey.

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SAMOA YOUTH MONOGRAPH 2020

SAMOA YOUTH MONOGRAPH 2020

Technical Reports and Document

A Population and Housing Census (PHC) provides a precise and geographically detailed account of population characteristics. More than just a head count, the data collected provides a snapshot of how many people are living in a country by age, sex and geographic location – and importantly how they are living, as well as other key socioeconomic characteristics. This makes a census a rich source for analysis, providing key inputs for policy, administration and research, and resource allocation. This report draws on the information collected in the Census to present a picture of the younger generation in order to assess how well youth are transitioning to adulthood in ways that will contribute to the country’s social and economic development. It is hoped that the analysis and data presented in this report will be used by government officials and decision-makers in Samoa to design youthsensitive policies and programmes, to allocate appropriate resources, and to monitor the effectiveness of interventions. The report complements other thematic reports published using data from the 2016 Census including the PHC 2016: Census Briefs 1 to 4 and the 2018 Samoa Disability Monograph – all published by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS). This report is intended for a broad audience, including people with limited statistical expertise, and presents key findings with clear explanations to help readers interpret the data and its limitations. It serves as a useful resource on Samoan youth and their contribution to economic and social development in the country.

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Tonga MICS 2019 Snapshot of Key Findings

Tonga MICS 2019 Snapshot of Key Findings

Technical Reports and Document

The Tonga Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was carried out in 2019 by Tonga Statistics Department (TSD) in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs – Women’s Affairs and Gender Equality Division and other government ministries as part of the Global MICS Programme. Technical support was provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Pacific Community (SPC) with government funding and financial support of UNICEF and UNFPA through Ministry of Health. The Global MICS Programme was developed by UNICEF in the 1990s as an international multipurpose household survey programme to support countries in collecting internationally comparable data on a wide range of indicators on the situation of children and women. MICS surveys measure key indicators that allow countries to generate data for use in policies, programmes, and national development plans, and to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other internationally agreed upon commitments. The objective of this snapshot of key findings is to facilitate the dissemination and use of results from the Tonga MICS, 2019. The survey methodology and detailed tabulations based on the data collected are available in the Survey Findings Report.

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Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) Jan-Mar 2021

Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) Jan-Mar 2021

Fact Sheet

Women Friendly Spaces (WFS) Jan-Mar 2021 infographic 

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Health Facility Readiness and  Service Availability (HFRSA) Assessment - Solomon Islands

Health Facility Readiness and Service Availability (HFRSA) Assessment - Solomon Islands

Technical Reports and Document

The HFRSA provides vital information on the availability and quality of essential maternal health services, including delivery and family planning, youth friendly services, HIV and prevention of mother to child transmission services.

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Fact Sheet - Samoa DHS - MICS 2019-20

Fact Sheet - Samoa DHS - MICS 2019-20

Fact Sheet

Thispublication is the first of a series of Samoa Demographic and Health Survey Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (DHS MICS) 2019 20 reports to be published from the dataset of the DHS MICS 2019 20

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STATE OF THE WORLD POPULATION 2020

State of the World Population Report 2020

State of World Population Report

The State of World Population 2020: Against my will: defying the practices that harm women and girls and undermine equality. Every year, millions of girls are subjected to practices that harm them physically and emotionally, with the full knowledge and consent of their families, friends and communities, according to the State of World Population 2020, released today by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. At least 19 harmful practices, ranging from breast ironing to virginity testing, are considered human rights violations, according to the UNFPA report, which focuses on the three most prevalent ones: female genital mutilation, child marriage, and extreme bias against daughters in favour of sons.

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Samoa Youth Monograph 2020 HARNESSING HUMAN CAPITAL: EMPLOYMENT POLICY BRIEF Policy Brief 3

Samoa Youth Monograph 2020 HARNESSING HUMAN CAPITAL: EMPLOYMENT POLICY BRIEF Policy Brief 3

Technical Reports and Document

The Samoa Youth Monograph (SYM) 2020 draws on and analyses data collected in the 2016 Samoan Population and Housing Census to present a picture of the younger generation in Samoa. This policy brief is one of three accompanying briefs that have been developed through a stakeholders consultation process to take a closer look at specific topics that impact on adolescents (aged 15 to 19 years) and youth (aged 18 to 35 years) in Samoa. This policy brief looks at harnessing human capital and includes an analysis of 2016 Census data as well as data from other sources.
The primary goal of the SYM and this policy brief is to generate dialogue among key stakeholders to identify priority areas for intervention and reform; to empower young people with information; and to provide an evidence base of data to guide investment decisions and advocacy efforts.

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Samoa Youth Monograph 2020 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION Policy Brief 2

Samoa Youth Monograph 2020 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, ENGAGEMENT AND INCLUSION Policy Brief 2

Technical Reports and Document

The Samoa Youth Monograph (SYM) 2020 draws on and analyses data collected in the 2016 Samoan Population and Housing Census to present a picture of the younger generation in Samoa. This policy brief is one of three accompanying briefs that have been developed through a stakeholders consultation process to take a closer look at specific topics that impact on adolescents (aged 15 to 19 years) and youth (aged 18 to 35 years) in Samoa. This policy brief looks at school attendance, engagement and inclusion, and includes an analysis of 2016 Census data as well as data from other sources.
The primary goal of the SYM and this policy brief is to generate dialogue among key stakeholders to identify priority areas for intervention and reform; to empower young people with information; and to provide an evidence base of data to guide investment decisions and advocacy efforts.

Full review

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