Women’s health a priority
ON May 28, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health was celebrated. Since its inception in 1987, the day has been commemorated by women’s health advocates and their communities and has been crucial in the building of the sexual and reproductive health and rights movement.
According to the movement’s website, this year’s campaign underscores the gravity of ensuring that in 2015 and beyond, women’s and girls’ rights are comprehensively addressed through highlighting the extreme consequences resulting from a narrow approach to women’s health, in the form of the institutional violence condoned and perpetuated by the different countries through the denial of sexual and reproductive health services and rights.
A call for action was also made to end violence against women in all its forms. Examples of institutional violence include the denial of the right to access safe and legal abortion services, forced or coerced sterilisations, obstetric violence, and the denial of access to contraceptives including emergency contraception.
An appeal was made to endorse the call for action, mobilise communities using social media, and report events of such nature.
