Women's Rights Persuasive Speech

To be able to control one’s own life, body, and sexuality is essential for women’s freedom and equality between the sexes
Maria has just turned fifteen years old when she was raped on a late April evening. A few weeks later, her period was late. She finally gathered the courage and told her parents of the terrible thing that had happened to her. Her mother took her to nearesr health center, which was a four hour bus ride away, and when the nurse informed Maria that she was pregant, Maria felt a perspiring wave of panic. All she wanted was to stay in school and be with her friends, like before. The though of giving birth to her rapist’s child made her nauseous and reminded her of that horrifying April evening. How was she supposed to take care of a baby, when she, herself was a child?
Maria, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Globally, 222 million girls and women lack access to modern and effective contraceptives. This results in 54 million unwanted pregnancies, 21 million unplanned births, and 16 million unsafe abortions annually. A large proportion of the unwanted pregnancies are direct results of rape. The younger a girl becomes pregnancy, the greater the likelihood of life-threating complications. In many cases, the girls also misses out on basic education and job
opportunities, which are important for financial independence and essential for equal participation as men in the society.
In Guatemale, the law allows abortions only if the pregnancy is causing a danger to the mother’s life. Although rape and incest are punishable crimes in the country, the girls and the women are expected to og through with the pregnancy, in the case that they do get pregnant. This is how it is in Tanzania and Kenya as well. In Colombia, the law was expanded in 2006, after much chamionship from women’s and human rights organizations. But even if aborition is granted for those who have been raped, due to reservations held by health professional, it is difficult for Colombian girls and women to practice this right and get the help they need.
What can we do about it?
We want to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies by providing good and knowledge-based sex education to girls and boys in Guatemala, Colombia, Tanzania, and Kenya.
When youth know their sexuality, they know how to protect themselves and seek access to contraceptives, and inctease control over their own bodies. Meanwhile, we are aware that the rate of abortions and the women who die due to dangerous abortions are declining in countries where abortion has been decriminalized and woman are allowed to terminate unwanted pregnancies. Furthermore, to put significant legislative changes in places, we will be establishing a very close dialogue with local politicians, health professionals, and other decision
makers.
FOKUS’ partner organizations are experienced and know the local social conditions weel. They know how to best implement changes, and how to approach topics that are deemed controversial by the locals. Whilst others use ethical and moral arguments, we want to use factual, unbiased, and evidence-based information to change attitudes and practices.
What can you contribute?
To achieve this important work, we are completely dependend on supportive players. In total, we need half a million kroner, and for every thousand we raise, NORAD will nonuple the amount. Does your business want to help young girls and women in Latin America and East Africa so that they have deciding power over their own lives and boies?