MSI Asia Pacific’s Post

There have been remarkable gains in the achievement of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all over the last 30 years. Unfortunately, these gains have not reached everyone equally and millions remain far behind on the trajectory of progress. Last night we gathered with partners to launch the 2024 SWOP report, which underscores the urgent need to dismantle systemic barriers and address the unique challenges faced by marginalized populations. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gVTf3RtC

🔍 Research highlights from the Middle East and North Africa region ⬇️ In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the topic of #abortion is not just a #medical issue but a multifaceted challenge interwoven with #politics, #religion, #history, and reproductive rights. An #intersectional approach is necessary to grasp the diverse beliefs and practices around abortion in the #MENA countries. This is crucial for formulating more effective and empathetic policies and interventions. 🌐 What Can Be Done: To foster progress, a holistic strategy is essential. This includes: 📈 Enhancing efforts to bolster women's rights across the board. 🤝 Engaging with community leaders to build a broader base of support for reproductive rights. 🕊️ Supporting progressive champions who are open to advancing dialogues on SRHR. 🩺 Promoting advocacy among health professionals to ensure that reproductive health services are accessible and meet the highest standards of care. 💬 Call to Action: The path forward demands collaborative efforts, innovative thinking, and persistent advocacy. By working together—across sectors and borders—we can build a future where informed choices about reproductive health are accessible to all women in the MENA region. Let's commit to understanding, dialogue, and action. #MENA #ReproductiveRights #WomensRights #Healthcare #Advocacy #CommunityEngagement

Empowering advocacy in sexual and reproductive health and rights: navigating the digital landscape, bridging technological divides, and confronting online harassment faced by women in politics for a safer, inclusive future. The benefits and challenges of technology in #SRHR were a key topics at the International Parliamentarians' Conference on Implementation of the #ICPD Programme of Action 2024, in Oslo, Norway. #IPCI2024 #GlobalGoals #ICPD30

“We know that women die, and suffer long term health consequences because of this loss of funding." 40 years ago, the first #GlobalGagRule was introduced by Ronald Regan, blocking US Government funding for organisations that deliver, provide information on, advocate for, or even refer to abortion care. It's been reinstated by every Republican President since, and was expanded by President Trump in 2017. MSI has never and will never sign the GGR. In 2017, this reduced our annual donor income by $30 million and we estimate that 8 million women lost access to our services. This resulted in 6 million unintended pregnancies, 1.8 million unsafe abortions, and 20,000 maternal deaths. As our Associate Director for Advocacy, Sarah Shaw, shared with Devex, the policy prevents access to life-saving healthcare, and it emboldens the anti-choice movement globally: "We've seen that the global gag rule has contributed to an enabling environment for anti-choice groups to start mobilising against reproductive health and reproductive rights. It's quite frightening." Read more in Devex: https://lnkd.in/ekJjE7qR

#UNWomen latest report in collaboration with The Global Justice Center, presents a chilling analysis of the extent of #ReproductiveViolence, a distinct type of #SGBV that is often perpetuated in conflict and crisis settings, and which results in devastating and long-lasting impacts on victims and survivors - the majority of whom are women and girls. The report defines #ReproductiveViolence as “acts or omissions that cause harm by interfering with reproductive autonomy and rights, or violence directed at people because of their actual or perceived reproductive capacity.” It includes acts such as forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced contraception, interference with autonomy over breastfeeding, denial of access to abortion or information about sexual and reproductive health, or targeted attacks on reproductive healthcare facilities, among other violations. Despite its devastating impacts and widespread nature (including as a weapon of conflict) the report notes that the recognition of #ReproductiveViolence as a distinct harm has historically been overlooked, including in international investigations of atrocities, conflict, humanitarian crises, or other instability. In addition to challenges such as impunity, a significant barrier to adequately addressing #ReproductiveViolence is the lack of data and documentation. The report further attributes this to constraints resulting from stigmatization, lack of capacity, limitations in existing laws, and the lack of analysis of linkages between underlying #GenderDiscrimination and acute acts of #ReproductiveViolence. The report lays out several recommendations, including: ⚡️Mandating the investigation and documentation of all #GenderBased violations, including #ReproductiveViolence. ⚡️Investigating and analysing the root causes of #SGBV ⚡️Providing investigative mechanisms with adequate resources Read the full report here:

Even before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe, people seeking basic reproductive health services faced far too many obstacles to care. But in the wake of the Dobbs decision, extremist anti-abortion lawmakers have built an ever more tangled web of restrictions and bans, designed to confuse people and to delay or prevent their abortion care. That's why our partners at If/When/How launched the Repro Legal Helpline, to provide confidential, judgment-free legal services to all callers, no matter their age, location, or phase of reproductive life. Since 2022, they've fielded over 5,300 calls from people seeking legal support to access abortion. Now, they've published their very first report, highlighting emerging trends in caller demographics and needs. We can learn a lot from the data about how folks across the US are being affected by abortion bans and restrictions, and how they are navigating the cloud of confusion under which many of us are currently living as we attempt to make sense of the country's rapidly shifting abortion landscape. ➡️ Learn more from If/When/How's work on the legal front lines in the 2024 Repro Legal Helpline report: https://lnkd.in/eiJpTvJb

With reproductive choice at risk of further restrictions in the US, MSI Reproductive Choices released our report today together with the Centre for Countering Digital Hate on how bias and misinformation on social media further disrupt women's ability to get accurate medical information on sexual and reproductive healthcare in countries around the world. This is a systemic issue and we believe women deserve better: https://lnkd.in/d92TNAwB

It's time to talk openly about abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean 🗣️💚 Abortion is a reality affecting millions of women in our region. Each year, approximately 5.4 million abortions occur in LAC, many under unsafe conditions. Why is breaking the silence crucial? • It saves lives: Stigma pushes many women towards dangerous procedures. • It promotes health: Correct information prevents risks. • It fosters empathy: Behind each statistic is a human story. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is key: 📊 Reduces unwanted pregnancies by 50% 🤝 Empowers young people to make informed decisions 🌈 Promotes healthy relationships and mutual respect Let's talk without taboos. Let's share evidence-based information. Let's support policies that protect the health and rights of all individuals. How can we, from our professional roles, contribute to a more informed and compassionate society on sexual and reproductive health issues? #ReproductiveHealth #HumanRights #SexEducation #PublicHealth #SustainableDevelopment Want to know more? Share your thoughts in the comments 👇

There is so much at stake with this upcoming presidential election. One of the issues being Sexual Health and Reproductive Health. Something I am deeply passionate about. As a Board Member of Menstrual Rights Global, I had the privilege to work along side Dr Jennifer Martin and Noelle Elizabeth S. to write an amazing article about SHRH and the upcoming US election! You can read the blog post here: https://lnkd.in/ec6T8CjX #womeninpolitics #shrh #menstrualadvocacy

#IPCI2024: Oslo commitment marks a milestone for global #humanrights. Parliamentarians from 112 countries join forces to safeguard sexual and reproductive health rights. The Declaration outlined actionable steps to translate principles into tangible progress. #HumanRights #GlobalAdvocacy #SRHR #GlobalGoals #ICPD30