Lalitpur, March 10:

Although attempts are being made at different levels to address women’s health needs, the young population aged between 10-24 years which accounts for nearly one-third of the country’s total population has no access to sexual or reproductive health information, counselling or youth-friendly services.

Dr Chattra Amatya, country director of The Centre for Development and Population Activities at the programme organised by Family Planning Association Nepal who presented a paper today on “Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women”, said, “Although there has been significant improvement in RH indicators between 1996-2001 reproductive health of economically backward women has not improved commensurately.”

“Unequal access to and control over time, money and transport further hinder their access to services,” said Dr Amatya.

Presenting another paper on the same topic, Sapana Pradhan Malla, president of the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) said, despite legal provisions for women’s sexual and reproductive rights, there are still too many discriminatory laws on reproductive health.