“Can She Decide in Times of Crisis?” Spotlight on women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights in emergencies
A She Decides' anniversary event on the occasion of International Women’s Day
March 8, 2018 - 12h30 to 14h
Belgian Federal Parliament, Room Jacques Brel,
13 Rue de Louvain, 1000 Brussels
Conference language English. Sandwiches provided.
Participation is free but please register by Friday March 2nd.
Globally, 135 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. They face the consequences of conflict or natural disasters. Of all individuals in need, about 1 in 4 is a woman or girl at reproductive age. In times of crisis, many would like to prevent or postpone pregnancy or delivery. While family planning is one of the most life-saving, empowering and cost-effective interventions for women and girls, an overwhelming gap exists in emergency responses. During humanitarian crises, women and girls also run a higher risk of suffering sexual and gender-based violence, such as rape, trafficking and prostitution, forced pregnancies and forced marriages.
Ensuring that women and girls fulfil their sexual and reproductive health and rights is not considered a priority in humanitarian interventions and lacks funding. Consequently, many women and girls are forced to live with an unmet need for family planning, face risky deliveries or a violation of their sexual and bodily integrity, in addition to the traumas of conflict, disaster and displacement. Yet, evidence shows that it is possible to provide sexual and reproductive health services in even the most challenging settings.
Programme
Welcome by Karine Lalieux, MP, Vice President of the Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda
What can WE do to ensure that She Decides in times of crisis? Keynote by Dr. Lina Abirafeh, Director Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World at the Lebanese American University in Beirut and ‘She Decides Champion’
Attention for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Belgium’s humanitarian aid policy and support (TBC)
Delivering sexual and reproductive health services during crises
Catherine Giboin, Vice President Médicins du Monde France
Q&A session
Closing by Sabien Lahaye-Battheu, MP, Vice President ‘Parliamentarians for the 2030 Agenda
