United Nations Day: A Legacy of Promises, Progress, and Possibilities for SRHR
The world pauses to celebrate the birth of the United Nations every year on 24th October. This year, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the organisation that rose from the ashes of the two world wars and promised to wave its blue flag in the bloodiest of the wars. If we look at the UN Charter, the foundational document of the UN, the first two subclauses of Article 1 depict the UN’s responsibility to maintain peace and security and develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of people. The next two subclauses address the effort to achieve international cooperation in solving global economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems while promoting human rights, and to serve as a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in pursuit of these common goals.
Yet, behind the ceremonies and speeches, questions linger. Has the UN always lived up to its promise? From the streets of Gaza to the refugee camps of Sudan, sometimes the UN has struggled to keep its promises. The cries from Yemen and Syria also remind us that global peace requires more than resolutions.
However, in another corner of its work, the UN has quietly led a different kind of revolution: one rooted in dignity, health, and choice. The progress of the SRHR landscape owes quite a debt to the UN, as it has continuously worked to establish that every era in history has needed, and will need, reproductive health services.
It began with a groundbreaking moment in 1994, at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo. For the first time, global leaders recognised that reproductive health was not just a population issue; it was a matter of rights. The Cairo Programme of Action placed individuals, especially women, at the heart of development. It declared that every person has the right to make decisions about their own body, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were launched in 2000. It promised a renewed commitment to universality. Goals 5 and 3 connected health, gender equality, and reproductive rights. It was successful in affirming that none of these can exist without the others. UN entities such as UNFPA, WHO and UN Women have pushed governments to make SRHR an integral part of their development agenda. From expanding access to family planning to addressing gender-based violence and comprehensive sexuality education, the UN’s influence is undeniable.
However, the work is far from over. Millions of women and girls in this world fail to get access to safe reproductive care. Marginalised communities continue to face stigma, and conflicts often strip survivors of their most basic health services. As we mark another UN Day, it’s time to see the United Nations as a reflection of our collective ambition.
The story of SRHR within the UN reminds us that progress is possible, even if it comes slowly. Peace may falter, but rights, when fought for, can endure. Share-Net Bangladesh congratulates the United Nations and everyone as we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the largest intergovernmental organisation in the world.
Sources:
1. The UN’s website
2. The UN Charter
3. UNSDG’s website
4. WHO’s website