Mr. Leonard Kamugisha, Officer-In-Charge, UNFPA
Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, Minister of Health
Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu, Minister of Youth and Sports
Mr. Richard Fartoma Ngafuan, Director General, Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Information Services (LISGIS)
Ensuring rights and choices is good for saving lives, advancing gender equality and human rights, and for building an inclusive economy. This Op-Ed explains why.
Reproductive agency is about the full range of conditions that enable people to exercise their reproductive rights and ensure true choice, including gender equality, economic stability, decent health and confidence in the future.
Reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the human rights of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children, to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of reproductive health.
Access to modern methods of contraception is a prerequisite for women and girls to be able to achieve their education aspirations, work, and participate in society in the same manner as men and boys. The use of condoms particularly is also essential for effective prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Globally, increased access to safe and effective contraceptive methods has contributed to greater educational attainment, increased workforce participation, and higher incomes among women.
Every gap in sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights represents a profound human tragedy with far-reaching consequences. A woman who dies during pregnancy or childbirth because she lacks quality maternal care leaves behind a grieving family and an immeasurable void in her community.
Beyond the human loss, these gaps hinder economic growth and development, depriving societies of the contributions women make as entrepreneurs, caregivers and leaders of the current and next generation.
More than thirty years ago, the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) affirmed that people can benefit from and add to economic growth and sustainable development only when investment in sexual and reproductive health is sufficient. Any plan to speed the pace of development and extend its reach depends on universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
Societies thrive when everyone has the freedom to make their own choices about their bodies and their futures. While significant gains have been made in sexual and reproductive health in recent decades, in part by stepping up attention and spending on these issues, chronic underinvestment persists. The consequences suggest a massive global loss in human potential: At least one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence at some point in her life. Nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended. Nearly a third of women in developing countries become mothers while still children themselves. Every two minutes, a woman or girl dies because of preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. These statistics point in one direction: invest in sexual and reproductive health!
Every investment in sexual and reproductive health is an investment in women’s options to make choices that make the most sense in their lives. Women with bodily autonomy are better equipped to gain an education, enter and flourish in the workforce, decide whether or not to have children and when, and avoid the catastrophic consequences of gender-based violence.
Every investment in sexual and reproductive health is also an investment in more inclusive, robust and resilient economies. Every additional US$1 spent on contraceptive services reduces the cost of pregnancy-related and newborn care by US$3, for example. And that’s just the beginning. Broader economic benefits result when people have the number of children that is right for them. Many families end up better equipped to educate and care for their children, which over time translates into lasting economic gains from a healthier, more skilled and productive workforce.
Liberia, being a country where 75% of the population is below the age of 35 (2022 census), can realise its demographic dividend by investing in sexual and reproductive health. By investing in sexual and reproductive health, Liberia creates a prosperous future where young people are empowered to create the family sizes that they want.
Ahead of the World Population Day 2025 (11 July), we encourage all stakeholders to get involved in the promotion of rights and choices for every person in Liberia. Young people need to be empowered as they become adults rather than being blamed for rejecting partnerships and parenthood. Empowerment in this context goes with increased comprehensive sexuality education, fertility awareness, commitment to end deaths related to preventable childbirth complications, and ensuring that young people have children as they desire. This week is also dedicated to Safe Motherhood in Liberia, where all actors are being mobilized to pay special attention to women during pregnancy, childbirth and post- childbirth. We are convinced that Every Mother Matters, and Every Birth Counts. We have to do our utmost to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
As UNFPA indicated in the 2025 State of the World Population report, the real solution to the crisis in reproductive agency is building a more equitable, sustainable and peaceful society where everyone believes they and their children can thrive. Therefore, policymakers must listen to and engage with young people, whose concerns about the future will be reflected in the choices they make about raising families and whose paths to adulthood will likely vary by country and culture.
