The document discusses issues around access to female condoms in South Africa. It argues that lack of access to female condoms violates human rights and women's rights to make their own reproductive decisions. It notes that female condoms are currently distributed inequitably compared to male condoms in the national strategic plan, which is unacceptable. Finally, it calls for advocacy efforts to pressure the government to revise the national strategic plan to better address the needs and vulnerabilities of women by expanding access to female condoms.

1. The Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme The NSP’s BETRAYAL of South Africa’s Women Tian Johnson Advocacy Officer Tel : 015 963 1222 Mobile : 073 432 4069

2. Our own Constitution provides for the establishment of a society based on social justice and fundamental rights, and a society where the quality of life of all citizens should be improved; and where the full potential of the citizens should be realized. - The TVEP 2008 Female Condom Dialogues Declaration

3. The right to basic health care provides for the right of every person ‘to make decisions concerning reproduction,’ and the right to have access to ‘ reproductive health care.’ In its General Comment No 12, (the Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), defined reproductive health as follows: “ Reproductive health means that women and men have the freedom to decide if and when to reproduce and the right to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice as well as the right of access to appropriate health care services that will, for example, enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth,”

4. Lack of adequate access to Female Condoms constitutes a human rights violation. An expanded definition of human rights inclusive of such issues as choice, accessibility and gender should be supported. • Access to free and easily accessible quality female condoms restores women’s self-esteem and dignity - The TVEP 2008 Female Condom Dialogues Declaration

5. The Female Condom is the only female initiated and controlled prevention and protection method and as such full participation of all stakeholders and the private sector must be incorporated into any strategy relating to access. The inequitable distribution of female and male condoms in the current National Strategic Plan is unacceptable and should be challenged immediately. Social norms are the major drivers of discrimination and inequalities and they contribute towards the feminization of HIV. - The TVEP 2008 Female Condom Dialogues Declaration

6. The use of ANY condom further empowers people to reduce the rate of reinfection and increased the total number of protected sex acts. - The TVEP 2008 Female Condom Dialogues Declaration

7. So WHY the Silence…..? Challenges There are NO global estimates of demand. The introduction of the tampon took more than 17 years to reach market demand levels.! An NSP that totally UNDERMINES women with inequitable distribution of female and male condoms.

8. What we DEMAND…. An NSP that truly reflects the reality on the ground when it comes to the particular vulnerabilities of women and infection prevalence Political Leadership and Support The challenging of of problematic donor attitudes, misconceptions and faulted policies

9. The way forward Compared with the overwhelming popular and sector support for access to ARV’s, advocacy for access to female condoms has been muted. HAS YOU ORGANISATION SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THIS????

10. The Declaration is currently being “sold” to Government and wider Civil Society Groupings so that……

11. In January 2009 a Strategic Campaign Planning meeting will take place that maps the way forward in ensuring the demands highlighted in the Declaration are met and women are empowered to make their rights a reality!

12. www.ahumanrightsissue.blogspot.com