SARSYC III gallery
ZambiaUniversity of Zambia
300 participants
The 3rd Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Conference was held in Lusaka, Zambia, from 11 to 12 July 2019 under the theme “Plan, Prioritise and Prevent.” The conference brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including young people and students, government representatives, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, development partners, and members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The Guest of Honour, the Director of Public Health from Zambia’s Ministry of Health, highlighted the country's commitment to advancing young people’s health through initiatives such as the University of Zambia Outreach Health Program, which addresses key SRHR challenges facing youth.
Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration among stakeholders to address socio-economic inequalities, human rights concerns, and barriers to SRHR services. Participants emphasized the importance of leveraging Southern Africa’s existing strengths and locally driven solutions to advance the Sustainable Development Goals related to health, education, and gender equality.
Deliberations were guided by four key SRHR pillars: women’s and children’s health, youth and LGBT health and rights, strengthened health systems, and the promotion of democracy, gender equality, and human rights. The conference concluded with a strong call for greater political commitment and increased investment in programmes that improve the health and well-being of young people across the region.