Adolescent girls, in particular, are at high risk of sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation, including trafficking; transactional sex for survival; early and forced marriage by relatives; and sexual assault by armed forces, humanitarian workers or others. Moreover, deficiencies exist in other sexual and reproductive health care areas, including safe abortion care; provision of long-term and permanent contraceptive methods; provision of emergency contraception, except in cases of rape; and clinical care and preventive services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence.And they also note the barriers to providing those needs. Cultural barriers, in particular, can be very important:
Cultural norms and ideological opposition to family planning, abortion and other sexual and reproductive health matters often impede access to services, both before and during a crisis. Relatedly, stigma associated with sex, unintended pregnancy (especially outside marriage) and abortion, and concerns about privacy, may inhibit many from using services, especially survivors of sexual violence. Moreover, for sensitive issues like abortion, providers are often unwilling to offer services, even where abortion is legal.Even if there were no cultural barriers, lack of sufficient funding would be a major issue. The United States has been a big player in providing funding over the years, but the Trump administration seems to have yanked the rug out from under that with the reinstatement of the global gag rule, as I noted a few days ago. It isn't clear how these things are going to play out, but at the moment everything is going in the wrong direction.
As a missionary I have been present with Syrian refugees in the area, and have seen young girls (13? 14?) with little babies. So yes, this is a genuine concern.
ReplyDeleteGiven that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) consummated his marriage with A'isha when she was nine (by her own account), what is positive is that the refugee girls are not younger. We should be thankful for that.