WOREC organized an interaction program on “Ensuring Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in upcoming Constitution" at United World Trade Center, Tripureshwor on the occasion of 28th May 2014, an International Day of Action for Women’s Health. Alliance of sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) members, Pelvic Organ Prolapse alliance member, organizations working with SRHR issues in Nepal, Women human rights defenders from different district, women from community and youths were part of the program.
The overall objective of the program was to unpack issues, elements affecting women’s reproductive and sexual rights along with key stakeholders and create environment that these issues gets addressed constitutionally and women's SRHR remains as fundamental rights in upcoming constitution.
Women’s bodily integrity, child marriage and its consequences, uterine prolapse, abortion rights, surrogate mother, fistula, sexual violence, understanding of sexuality from women’s perspective, citizenship certification from mother’s name, sexual harassment in public places, access to health care services, menstrual hygiene, social stigma associated with delivering female child were the highlighted issues raised during the discussion.
The moderator of the program Dr. Renu Rajbhandari stated “these issues on women’s sexual and reproductive health should not be left out in the upcoming constitution. Today’s discussion on SRHR is just an exercise and a step to take forward to the responsible government bodies”. She further addressed the issues on forced and unwanted pregnancy that women have to face during her life time because of not having right on her own body. She also emphasized that the structural perspective towards discriminating female child should be reformed because that is the root cause for violation against women.
The program concluded with the common understanding to endorse the collected suggestions and recommendations that came from the forum and further present them in high level discussions (policy making process) to ensure these issues will be addressed in upcoming constitution.