By Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba

The Governments of Denmark and Kenya, together with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), have organized one of the biggest conferences to be held in Africa that will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 12-14 November 2019.

The organizers intend to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historical International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which took place in Cairo, Egypt in 1994.

But the United States government, The Vatican and the African Union (AU), and the Kenyan Church have expressed strong concern and reservations about the meeting.

The concerns relate to the draft texts ( Nairobi Statement) and the strategic focus of the meeting that has shifted from population and development issues to matters related to access and rights to abortion rights and; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex(LGBTQ) rights.

Another critical issue is that no substantive, inclusive and substantial consultations on the texts were carried out with policy organs of the United Nations and the African Union.

The Holy See has since pulled out of the meeting stating that;

“The Holy See notes that if more time and a truly inclusive approach had been chosen, broader support could have been ensured for the text and for the conference”.

But the deeper concern is the realization that the meeting appears to misrepresent the legitimate authority of the United Nations.

The Meeting is being held outside of the United Nations framework, thus precluding transparent inter-governmental negotiations while conveying the misleading impression of UN member states on “consensus” on the “Nairobi Statement.”

So the Nairobi Summit cannot be deemed to be a meeting requested by the United Nations or held under its auspices as was the original ICPD which it is seeks to commemorate.

The ICPD was convened under the auspices of the United Nations and was organized by a secretariat composed of the Population Division of the then UN Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy Analysis (now the Department of Economic and Social Affairs) and UNFPA.

So what is the controversy?

In the original ICPD of 1994 and the subsequent Program of Action, the primary call was for member states to implement programs for universal access to health, and to institute family planning programs.

Over time, UNFPA has expanded the goal to include Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and now Rights(SRHR), the right to access education regarding sexual and reproductive health, an end to female genital mutilation, and increased women’s empowerment in social, political, and cultural spheres.

But it is their special goals and targets created to address adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights including access by adolescents, to abortions, and in many cases without parental consent; and the aggressive introduction of LGBTQ matters that have raised stakeholder’s concerns.

These programs are being implemented without due regard to national, religious, cultural and traditional values and interests of Africa and other UN member states that remain conservative on such matters.

So what are Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR) and Comprehensive Sexuality Education(CSE) and why have they caused so much controversy and indignation?

1. Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR)-Sexual and reproductive health and rights or SRHR is the concept of human rights applied to sexuality and reproduction.

UNFPA is driving an agenda to ensure that SRH&R should be part of public health and development strategies.

SRHR is described as good sexual and reproductive health, a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to t
sex and the reproductive system.

It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce, and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so.

The description might appear innocent and noble but attract embedded controversial guaranteed rights such as free access sex (all types of sex), free access to abortions, and redefine gender identity as a matter of right beyond male and female identities as we know it.

These are matters that Africa has not established consensus on.

This also raises concern when such rights are extended to adolescents who in religious, traditional, community and cultural settings may not be permitted to have free sex as they deem(as sex is reserved for marriage), experiment with their sexual orientation( gay sex and couples are alien and offend known social norms) and in many jurisdictions outlawed) and are allowed to change genders as they wish(a big matter pending determination in legal, scientific, religious and cultural terms in Africa).

This violates and offends social and national values in those communities.

2. Comprehensive Sexuality Education(CSE)

CSE curriculum is controversial as it has many extreme aspects such as introducing children as young as seven to learn about same-sex families, and to the controversial concept of numerous gender identities.

Children are also taught about masturbation, oral and anal sex, and other types of sex.

Many religious groupings have called CSE curriculum “satanic and evil”.

CSE is also deemed as a tool targeting Africa’s children and young people as a quick way to change Africa’s highly conservative positions on LGBTQ and gender identity issues.

CSE is a highly controversial matter as it drove like a “rights-based” approach to sex education that encompasses more than just teaching children and youth about sexual intercourse and human reproduction.

On the other hand, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) the specialized agency of the United Nations based in Paris, France that has been driving the agenda, states that CSE is a curriculum-based process of teaching children and young people to learn about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.

UNESCO states that CSE aims to equip children and young people with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that will empower them to realize their sexual health, well-being, and dignity;

It says CSE encompasses children and young people to understand issues about relationships, gender, puberty, consent, and sexual and reproductive health.

But critics state that CSE programs have been hijacked by pro-abortion and pro-LGBTQ organizations that have introduced in the children’s sex education curriculum issues promoting same-sex marriage, controversial gender identities, and LGBTQ issues.

CONCLUSION

The ICPD25 being held in Nairobi may miss a great opportunity to address and promote the broader goals of the world aiming to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by 2030, and the goals to end poverty, secure good health and well-being of all, and realizing gender equality and achieving sustainable communities, among many other SDG goals.

The narrow focus and attention to Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights and the attendant Comprehensive Sexuality Education become the poisoned chalice spoiling the noble goal of the original ICPD and its developmental agenda on health population growth and development.

The Author is Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.

President Edgar Lungu has said that he is a sponsored candidate for the ruling party and ready for the 2021 general elections.

Responding to a question from a Journalist during the Presidential Media Engagement at State House yesterday afternoon, President Lungu said if some PF members want to go to the general conference, he is ready for it, adding that he has been fought several times through contestation and that he believes in democracy.

“I am just a sponsored candidate for the Patriotic Front and I cannot determine how PF wants to run its race till 2021. And the Central Committee and General Conference are all organs of the PF. So if the PF chooses this route or that route, I am ready for anything,” he said.

“For me, I am a democrat. I am a champion of democracy.”

President Lungu further said the Patriotic Front is a leading player in terms of embracing democracy.

“We will go to the general conference if that will be the wish of the PF. In short, I am game,” said President Lungu.

And on the perceived reconciliation with Former Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili, President Lungu said he has nothing against him.

“Yes, I went to Church to remember my late President Michael Chilufya Sata. I didn’t know that Mr. Kambwili was also in the church. So the priest called me and I shook hands with Mr. Kambwili. I was lamenting at that time when called for reconciliation because I have never differed with him,” said the Head of State.

“In short, I have got no issues with Chishimba Kambwili myself except he has offended some members of my family by calling me a thief, a corrupt person, and a drug dealer. After the church service, the priest saw it fit and called us to his office where he (Chishimba Kambwili) said he has suffered, his business and family are suffering.”

The President insisted that he has not differed with Mr. Kambwili.

Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has called on students in high learning institution to take the lead in governance issues and participate in matters of national development.

President Lungu says the country can only groom better future leaders if students are allowed to voice out on issues affecting the country.

The Head of State adds that Zambia is currently struggling in a lot of areas because some of the solutions could be suppressed in some students.

President Lungu was speaking after his routine morning run with students from the University of Zambia, Evelyn Hone College and The National Institute of Public Administration-NIPA.

Zambia Association of Colleges Students Union ZACOSU president Peter

Bwalya hailed President Lungu for coming up with the routine morning run.

Mr. Bwalya said he happy that the practice is slowly being becoming rife among Zambians in most Townships.

He said the union will endeavor to spread the practice in all high learning institutions in a bid to fight non-communicable.

President Edgar Lungu has advised the media fraternity in the country to be professional in their line of duty.

The Head of State observed glaring disregard for journalism ethos coupled with sustained political bias among journalists and further appalled at the amount of effort put in by the media in seeing the conflict between him and his political rivals.

Speaking at State House Friday afternoon when he engaged with the media, President Lungu urged them not to be crusaders of conflict between political players but to provide a forum for public discourse and compromise.

“You need to create a chasm between journalism and social media craze. This no one can do apart from yourselves because social media is for all while journalism is for trained communicators but if you allow all and sundry to masquerade as journalists, your profession will perish,” the Head of State advised.

He regretted that with social media the truth is less important and the more exaggerated or inaccurate the communication is the more it seems to attract readership.

President Lungu, however, expressed pride that since the Patriotic Government assumed office there have been great developments in the media, including the digitizing of the airwaves.

The Head of State acknowledged the expansion of the media industry with the private sector taking the lead in the formation of radio and television companies as well as the recruitment of young Zambians to take up positions in the new broadcasting companies.

And speaking at the same function, MISA Zambia Vice Chairperson Hyde Haguta commended President Edgar Lungu for holding a media interaction with journalists from both government and private media at Statehouse.

In his vote of thanks, Mr. Haguta emphasized the need for a free press in order to allow the media to report freely on various developmental projects taking place in the country.

“There is a need to allow the media to report freely on the many developmental projects your government is implementing various parts of the country,” Mr. Haguta stated.

The MISA Vice President also handed over to President Lungu the 2019 quarterly State of the Media Report.

And Speaking at the end of the event , Political Adviser to the President, Mr. Kaizar Zulu said that the advent of social media was very welcome because it provided information in real-time.

Mr. Zulu, however, said the downside to social media is the mushrooming of not so credible media platforms were falsehoods are peddled with impunity.

He observed that the malicious news that is being published on some social media sites works to daint the image of the nation and has wondered what it benefits those that are in the habit of doing so.

He has urged the media especially online Journalists to be vigilant in verifying everything before publishing if they are to be taken seriously as credible media outlets.

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President Eddie Mwitwa has renewed the process to summon Justice Minister, Given Lubinda, and Attorney General Likando Kalaluka to testify as witnesses for LAZ over the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Bill No. 10 of 2019.

Meanwhile the LAZ boss has alleged the process that culminated into Bill 10 at the National Dialogue Forum was undertaken under the patronage of both Mr. Lubinda and Mr Kalaluka, whom they want as their witnesses.

Last week, the full bench of the Constitutional Court threw out the summons which were issued to both Mr. Lubinda and Kalaluka on the basis LAZ had not obtained the leave of Court to issue the summons.

The full bench had also issued a direction that the Court will not accept any other applications made after 5th November, 2019. Without applying for leave of the Court to alter its directions as issued, the body of lawyer decided to file its application on 7th November, 2019.

The application is set to be heard before Constitutional Court Judge Enock Mulembe on the 11th November, 2019.

The full bench has set 12th November, 2019 for hearing of the main petition filed by the Law Association of Zambia and Chapter One Foundation.