{"id":31768,"date":"2026-04-14T07:39:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&#038;p=31768"},"modified":"2026-04-14T07:59:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T05:59:44","slug":"sa-urges-stronger-research-universal-reproductive-health-rights-access-at-un-population-forum","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/sa-urges-stronger-research-universal-reproductive-health-rights-access-at-un-population-forum\/","title":{"rendered":"SA urges stronger research, universal reproductive health, rights access at UN population forum"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Addressing the session, South Africa\u2019s (SA) Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, called for increased investment in research, data and innovation, alongside universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.<\/div>\n<div data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Speaking to Channel Africa on Monday, Letsike said the commission remains a key multilateral platform for shaping global policy and advancing dignity and equality.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThis conversation is really about how we pursue dignity, how we pursue equality, but also sustainable development in a rapidly changing world,\u201d Letsike said, arguing that demographic shifts and technological transformation should be managed in ways that reduce inequality, exclusion and injustice.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Letsike stressed that evidence-based policymaking must be rooted in people\u2019s lived realities. \u201cThese are not just ordinary numbers and evidence. This is people\u2019s lives,\u201d Letsike said, adding that interventions must take account of intersecting challenges, including gender inequality, economic disparities and structural exclusion.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Letsike pointed to SA\u2019s youthful profile as both an opportunity and a responsibility. \u201cThe median age is 28 in SA,\u201d Letsike said, noting that the country must invest in skills, education and access to information to unlock prosperity. Letsike also highlighted the importance of planning for an ageing population, warning that development policy must address needs across generations.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Letsike said digital transformation should expand opportunity while protecting the public from new risks. Letsike emphasised that building effective public digital infrastructure must go hand in hand with safeguards, including clear regulation, protocols and standards that protect people from harm.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThis is not just a mandate of one department,\u201d she said, noting that SA\u2019s approach requires coordinated action across government to strengthen human capability and broaden participation, especially for women and girls, in science, technology, innovation, research and development.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The commission\u2019s discussions are expected to continue over the coming days, with governments, UN agencies and civil society examining how technology and population trends can be harnessed to accelerate inclusive development while protecting rights.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>&#8211;ChannelAfrica&#8211;<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":31769,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"news-type":[78,26],"class_list":["post-31768","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-featured","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"The 59th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Population and Development opened in New York on Monday, with Member States set to focus on population dynamics, technology and research in the context of sustainable development.","published_date":"","news_description":"The 59th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Population and Development opened in New York on Monday, with Member States set to focus on population dynamics, technology and research in the context of sustainable development.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/31768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/31768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31770,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/31768\/revisions\/31770"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=31768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}