We welcome guest blogs from across the sexual and reproductive health and rights community. If you are interested in submitting a blog to SRHM, please read our guest blog guidelines here and get in touch with us at info@srhm.org.
Please note that blog posts are not peer-reviewed and do not necessarily reflect the views of SRHM as an organisation.
10 May, 2022
In May 2022, SRHM held a symposium in New Delhi and online with the aim to create space for dialogue on: Deconstructing the notion and hierarchy of evidence Pushing methodological boundaries in SRHR research Questioning what constitutes “evidence-based”, a “researcher”, and what is “scientifically appropriate” Questioning power in research and ensuring participation Topics covered included […]
31 March, 2022
Written by María Mercedes Vivas, Executive Director of the Orientame Foundation in Colombia On the 21st of February, after more than 500 days of deliberation the Constitutional Court in Colombia ruled to decriminalize, under any circumstance, abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation. This enormous victory is the result of a lawsuit presented by Causa Justa, […]
14 March, 2022
Eszter Kismödi,a Emma Pitchforthb Chief Executive, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, Geneva, Switzerland Executive Editor, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, London, UK. Correspondence: emma.pitchforth@srhm.org *This editorial has been published in the SRHM Journal. It is available here. While campaigning for sexual and reproductive health and rights remains a day-to-day concern, wars, such as the […]
10 March, 2022
Following a call for poetry, SRHM launched a poetry fair on sexual and reproductive justice. Of the 107 submissions, our Selection Committee invited 57 poets to publish their poems in SRHM’s anthology. To celebrate the release of the complete collection, on 8 March 2022 five guest poets shared their poems and how they came to […]
1 February, 2022
This blog post is the transcript from an episode of the SRHM Podcast titled Trans Reproductive Justice with Avery Everhart, Blas Radi and A.J. Lowik. The SRHM Podcast is available for free on all major platforms. [Introductory music] Hi everyone and welcome to the SRHM Podcast. My name is Nina Sun and I am an […]
19 January, 2022
Written by Swastika Shrestha, Research Officer at Birat Nepal Medical Trust in Nepal and co-author of the research article Feasibility of HPV self-sampling pathway in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal using a human-centred design approach “What’s in a name?” Shakespeare famously quoted. However, turns out- there is more to a name than one might think. When I […]
18 January, 2022
Isabel Zuluaga Mesa, best known under her artist name Zumbambico, is a Colombian illustrator whose drawing titled Fuerza (which translates to Strength) is featured on the cover of the SRHM Open Issue 2022. The text below was written by Zumbambico. What was the inspiration behind the illustration Fuerza? What inspired Fuerza are women and our […]
11 December, 2021
Following our recent call for poetry, we launched a poetry collection with sexual and reproductive health experts, professionals, and activists who are also poets. The panel talked about how poetry can be a powerful means of expression and can serve as a bridge between personal experiences and political activism and advocacy for the advancement of […]
24 November, 2021
Written by Sophie Butcher, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Molly Gilmour, Department of Sociology, University of Glasgow; Federica Cucé, Department of Medicine, University of Padova; Elise Kearsey, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Ruwa Mahdi, Department of Social Science and Public Policy, King’s College London; and Kehinde Whyte-Ilori, School of […]
12 November, 2021
Written by Siti Nurul Qomariyah, Research and Evaluation Director, Jhpiego Indonesia and Michael Muthamia, Senior Technical Officer, Jhpiego Kenya A woman’s right to use family planning throughout her reproductive years should be valued, protected, and secured—especially in the period of time right after giving birth or losing a baby. This right is enshrined in numerous […]
21 October, 2021
On October 20, SRHM hosted a webinar where we discussed the Texas abortion ban, the strategies being pursued to stop its enforcement and the ban’s implications for sexual and reproductive health and rights in the US and beyond. Context On September 1, the state of Texas implemented Senate Bill 8 (SB8) banning abortion after six […]
13 October, 2021
Written by Risa E. Kaufman, Director, U.S. Human Rights, Center for Reproductive Rights As the threat of U.S. retrogression on abortion rights increases, so do demands for human rights. This year, state legislatures throughout the United States enacted historic numbers of abortion restrictions and bans. Texas Senate Bill 8 illustrates the extreme nature of these […]
20 July, 2021
Written by the Lovehoney Sex Experts team based on interviews with Andrew Gurza, the Chief Disability Officer at Handi. There are many health conditions that can impact mobility, including age-related mobility issues which will be experienced by nearly everyone. Having a disability doesn’t change our desire to have our sexual needs met. Globally, we need […]
1 June, 2021
Written by Lucy Guan, Master of Public Health student at Columbia University with an interest in sexuality and reproductive health. Comprehensive sexual education and conversations with adolescents about sexual pleasure and intimacy are even more important during and after the COVID-19 pandemic than they were before, especially as the return to a new normal may […]
18 May, 2021
On May 17, 2021, we hosted a webinar on accountability as part of a dialogue series on rights-based research and knowledge creation for sexual and reproductive health. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) laws, policies and programmes across the world are increasingly influenced by ideologically-inspired politics and rhetoric, which lack any basis of evidence, […]
10 May, 2021
Written by Jessica Bo, a blogger and women’s rights advocate with a special interest in reproductive health and sexuality The topic of female masturbation can still kindle conversational sparks, arguably because it is still taboo for some. Messages of empowerment come into direct conflict with cultural and religious views, especially as the act of masturbation […]
5 May, 2021
Authors of the paper titled Menstrual health: a definition for policy, practice, and research published in the SRHM journal argue that the term “menstrual health” has seen increased use across advocacy, programming, policy, and research, but has lacked a consistent, self-contained definition. In response, the authors present a definition of menstrual health developed by the […]
23 March, 2021
Written by Matt Boxshall, Anooj Pattnaik, and Nirmala Ravishankar, who work on strategic purchasing for primary health care at ThinkWell. In this blog they review family planning (FP) in universal health coverage (UHC) schemes and argue that the first question we need to ask is “will this reach those most in need?” The global FP […]
23 March, 2021
Written by Ira Memaj and Robert Fullilove We recognize that transmen, non-binary people, and people who identify as women also need and have a right to access sexual and reproductive health services. In this blog, we use the term “women” inclusively. Women in jails and prisons are the fastest growing incarcerated population in the U.S. […]
12 March, 2021
A review titled Mapping the scientific literature on reproductive health among transgender and gender diverse people: a scoping review published in the SRHM journal indicates that literature on reproductive health in transgender and gender diverse people is limited. The researchers concluded that more studies need to be done, in addition to improvements in study design. […]
23 February, 2021
Sapna Desai, SRHM Trustee, interviewed Pakistani artist Naiza Khan whose sculpture is featured on the cover of SRHM’s South Asia regional journal issue. The audio only version of the interview is available here Armour Suit for Rani of Jhansi II © Naiza Khan About the sculpture I have been interested in the notion of female […]
23 February, 2021
On February 22, we hosted an online event with the editors of our upcoming issue on self-care interventions. The editors spoke about this issue of the journal, the scope of the topic, and the submission process and requirements. They also answered questions from potential authors. The call for papers on self-care interventions and rights-based access […]
3 February, 2021
Hard-earned rights are being reversed when restrictive laws criminalize young people’s sexual exploration, according to an article published in the peer-reviewed journal Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM). Since India increased the age of consent from 16 to 18 it triggered a movement – which continues today – criminalizing young people’s sexuality. This protectionist law […]
27 January, 2021
Eszter Kismődi, SRHM Chief Executive, interviewed South African artist Grace Cross whose painting is featured on the cover of the SRHM 2021 Open Issue. The audio only version of the interview is available here Grace Cross is a Zimbabwe born material painter who draws symbols from feminism, motherhood, home, and belief structures. Cross’s art is […]
26 January, 2021
This blog is also available in English. Écrit par: Matt Boxshall (ThinkWell), Sarah Straubinger (ThinkWell), Kadidia Dissa Boro (ThinkWell Burkina Faso), Pierre-Marie Metangmo (ThinkWell Burkina Faso) Malgré de nombreux défis concurrents, le gouvernement du Burkina Faso continue de démontrer son engagement en faveur des droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive. En juillet 2020, le […]
20 January, 2021
This blog is also available in French. Ce blog est disponible en français. Written by Matt Boxshall (ThinkWell), Sarah Straubinger (ThinkWell), Kadidia Dissa Boro (ThinkWell Burkina Faso), Pierre-Marie Metangmo (ThinkWell Burkina Faso) Despite many competing challenges, the Government of Burkina Faso continues to demonstrate its commitment to sexual and reproductive health rights. In July 2020, […]
22 December, 2020
2020 is a year we will remember! The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world as we knew it and challenged public health policies, global health institutions, local health systems, and people’s lives in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Globally, we experienced the need for evidence-based information to be the driving force behind the […]
14 December, 2020
Written by Andrea Sprockett, Chief Operating Officer at Metrics for Management. She is also passionate about equitable health service delivery. Despite widespread recognition that reproductive health should embrace the full range of choices including contraception, antenatal and postnatal care, and safe abortion, we, as a community, too often fail to include the other side of […]
11 December, 2020
SRHM themed issue, Universal Health Coverage: sexual and reproductive rights in focus explores the promises and limitations of universal health coverage for sexual and reproductive health and rights, with special attention to rights-based perspectives. THE BELOW IS TAKEN FROM COVERAGE OF THE SRHM ISSUE IN THE WHO NEWSROOM https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/burkina-faso-and-thailand-achieving-uhc-for-sexual-and-reproductive-health When sexual and reproductive health services […]
10 December, 2020
Written by Gul Meena, Program Manager with YAD Pakistan The Youth Association for Development, YAD Pakistan, is a civil society initiative which has been working in Balochistan from 2005. Sexual and reproductive health and rights is a major thematic area of work including maternal health, access to safe abortion and ending early and forced marriages, […]
11 November, 2020
On 22 October 2020, the Polish government ruled in favour of a near total ban on abortions – even though the country already had one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. The ban would apply to cases of severe fetal anomaly which account for 98% of abortions carried out in Poland. The controversial court […]
6 November, 2020
The SRHM special issue in collaboration with Columbia University, Exporting Harm: the impact of the Global Gag Rule on sexual and reproductive health and rights includes case studies from Madagascar, Nepal and Kenya as well as commentaries on the policy’s effects. The research published in this issue has been feature in various news sources. CNN: […]
21 October, 2020
On October 21, 2020, we launched our latest special issue in collaboration with Columbia University: Exporting Harm: Impact of the expanded Global Gag Rule on sexual and reproductive health and rights. The webinar included presentations from Center for Research on Environment Health and Population Activities (CREHPA) in Nepal, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) […]
14 October, 2020
In August 2020, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights decided the case of Paola Guzmán Albarracín v. Ecuador, which establishes standards to protect girls from sexual violence and harassment in schools. The ruling also holds Ecuador responsible for failing to protect an adolescent student from the sexual violence she suffered in school. The Court’s judgment, […]
8 October, 2020
Le 8 octobre, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) et l’association Ensemble pour la Santé de la Reproduction (ESR) ont organisé un webinaire pour le lancement de la nouvelle édition de la revue SRHM francophone « Questions de Santé Sexuelle et Reproductive ». Le thème de cette dernière est : L’Afrique Francophone : Quelles priorités […]
2 October, 2020
Written by Emily Harris, a Master of Public Health student at the University of Waterloo. She also holds a Master of Arts in globalization and international development with a concentration in women’s studies. She is passionate about the intersection of health and reproductive rights and has worked in different capacities with institutions that aim to promote […]
24 September, 2020
Written by Sneha Sharma, Senior Research and Program Associate (ICRW ASIA); Sharmishtha Nanda, Technical Specialist (ICRW ASIA); Kuhika Seth, Technical Specialist (ICRW ASIA); Aishwarya Sahay, Research Associate (ICRW ASIA) and Pranita Achyut, Director-Research and Programs (ICRW ASIA)[1] Our lives have radically changed since the onset of the pandemic at the beginning of the year. COVID-19 […]
24 September, 2020
Written by Kerigo Odada, human rights lawyer who specialises in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and currently serves as a Board Member of The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights. For many adolescent girls and young women around the world, adolescence marks not only the commencement of puberty, but also a time where […]
23 September, 2020
In commemoration of Safe Abortion Day on September 28, this blog signposts some of the papers that have appeared in the SRHM journal on abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spread around the globe and healthcare systems faced unprecedented demand, many experts warned of the possible consequences this crisis could […]
22 September, 2020
In September 2020, SRHM partners, the Moroccan non-governmental organisation All for Reproductive Health/Ensemble pour la Santé Sexuelle et Reproductive (ESR) and the National School of Public Health (ENSP), published the 6th edition of the French SRHM Journal – Questions de Santé Sexuelle et Reproductive. Read the journal issue here One month prior to the […]
14 September, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated the need to collect most up to date and evidence-based information on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), that can help governments and others to respond to the challenging and emerging situation. However, ethical considerations in SRHR research, such as setting priorities, respecting confidentiality, privacy, informed consent, being inclusive […]
4 September, 2020
For World Sexual Health Day on September 4, SRHM, in collaboration with the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) and The Pleasure Project, co-organized a webinar on sexual pleasure in times of COVID-19. Watch the recording below. SPEAKERS Anne Philpott, The Pleasure Project Dr. T Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Vithika […]
20 August, 2020
Written by Pilar Montalvo, Senior Program Officer, Planned Parenthood Global Latin America Program When Elena* first realized she was pregnant, her first reaction was fear. Not the nervous jitters experienced by many first-time parents—but true terror. Her domestic partner, who had forbidden her to use contraception, was using drugs and was prone to violence […]
11 August, 2020
A paper titled Impact of covid-19 on family planning services in India, published in the SRHM journal said the figures paint a grim picture of limited family planning service provision and increase in unmet need for family planning. THE BELOW IS TAKEN FROM COVERAGE OF THE SRHM PAPER IN LIVEMINT.COM https://www.livemint.com/news/india/how-covid-19-increased-the-need-for-family-planning-in-india-11594800689091.html NEW DELHI: At a time […]
23 July, 2020
Julia Hussein – Editor in Chief Julia has 30 years of professional experience as an obstetrician, public health practitioner, development worker, researcher, writer and scientific editor. She has worked with non-government organizations, universities, funding agencies, governments and the United Nations in several countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. She now prefers […]
20 July, 2020
Written by Elżbieta Korolczuk and Pauline Cullen Anti-abortion groups often claim that their aim is to protect women from the alleged negative consequences of abortion, but in practice, they continuously stigmatize women who undergo this procedure. In anti-abortion propaganda, abortion is portrayed as a deviation from the norm, as something shameful and immoral, or as […]
9 July, 2020
Written by Dinka Benítez Piraino On May 26, 2020, same-sex civil marriage came into effect in Costa Rica, becoming the first country in Central America and one of 29 countries in the world to recognize it. In contrast, nearly 30 countries around the world punish lesbianism and homosexuality with prison sentences and even death. In […]
7 July, 2020
As authors concluded in their recent SRHM paper, Regional legal and policy instruments for addressing LGBT exclusion in Africa, regional policy documents such as “The African Charter” offer African countries that don’t protect LGBT rights the basis to draft domestic legislation as the first step to protection to all. The below is taken from coverage […]
29 June, 2020
Written by Anna Reed, J.D. candidate at the Georgetown University Law Center and current intern at SRHM. Anna is one of the Executive Producers of Self Managed, a new podcast dedicated to destigmatizing and demystifying the practice of self-managed abortion. The hem of my dressy pants is coming undone, I notice, as I screech […]
16 June, 2020
By John Skibiak John Skibiak is the Director of the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, the world’s largest voluntary network of reproductive health organizations, working with health systems, manufacturers, distributors, providers and educators to increase access to a range of quality-assured, affordable contraceptive methods. Women should have access to the contraception they need, when they […]
15 June, 2020
On Monday 15 June 2020, SRHM hosted a webinar to discuss the new reality of achieving SRHR in universal health coverage (UHC) during COVID-19 and beyond. In the current political climate, achieving universal health coverage for sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in the context of rights, can be challenging. The current COVID-19 pandemic […]
9 June, 2020
Written by Jane Freedman, Tamaryn Crankshaw and Marcia Mutambara Our recent article in SRHM highlighted the vulnerabilities of asylum seeking and refugee women in South Africa to gender-based violence, and their lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services. The current COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to significantly worsen these women’s situation and leave […]
28 May, 2020
Written by Ellen McCammon Managing menstruation in India can be difficult. It may be marked by challenges with obtaining, cleaning, storing, and disposing of menstrual supplies, and insufficiently private, safe, and clean bathrooms [1]. In addition to the logistical and resource-based difficulties with managing the physical experience of menstruation, there are also emotional, and psychological […]
28 May, 2020
Novel methods of abortion could benefit women worldwide, however abortion largely remains an untapped field of innovation. Currently there are two main methods of abortion, manual vacuum aspiration and medical abortion. The introduction of medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol) revolutionized abortion care, providing women greater autonomy and ease of abortion administration; yet, it still has […]
26 May, 2020
Written by Patty Skuster, Senior Legal Advisor, Ipas While governments around the world reform laws to make abortion less restrictive, self-managed abortion—ending a pregnancy without formal supervision by a health-care provider, often with pills—remains unauthorized in most countries. The Policy Surveillance Program at Temple University School of Law, USA and Ipas released new data that […]
23 May, 2020
Written by Erin Anastasi, Coordinator, Campaign to End Fistula & Technical Specialist at UNFPA in New York, USA and Kevin Nalubwama, fistula survivor, Midwifery student, journalist, Operation Fistula Expert Client Advisor and informal advisor to the Campaign to End Fistula in Kampala, Uganda Alone, uncertain and afraid, this crisis alienating and isolating them at the […]
18 May, 2020
Rachel Rebouché & Adrienne Ghorashi Over the last six weeks, abortion access in the state of Texas has been unclear at best and unavailable at worst. Dueling court orders between a federal trial court and the region’s federal appeals court lifted the suspension of almost all abortions – deemed by the state as “non-essential” healthcare […]
5 May, 2020
Kerigo Odada is a human rights lawyer based in South Africa, specialising in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa at the Centre for Human Rights-University of Pretoria. She currently serves as a Board Member of The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights The Novel Coronavirus, known as COVID -19 has disrupted […]
7 April, 2020
Written by Shreshtha Das, Consultant for SRHM Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM, formerly Reproductive Health Matters) has long been considered as a truly global open access peer-reviewed Journal. It has, however, always been much more than a journal. A broader commitment has been manifested in the translation of selected papers into seven language editions […]
31 March, 2020
Written by Christina Zampas, human rights lawyer and Associate Director of Global Advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights Barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services have always existed but the Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the stark reality of these barriers. The general population across the globe is now experiencing what […]
27 March, 2020
On Friday 27 March 2020, SRHM hosted a webinar on the implications for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the era of Covid-19. We were moved by the coming together of the SRHR community during this time to discuss the situations being faced by vulnerable and key populations and the actions that are […]
24 March, 2020
Written by Sarah Pugh, Independent Consultant, Cape Town, South Africa On Sunday, 15 March, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national State of Disaster, encompassing measures such as visa bans, travel restrictions, school closures and the restriction of gatherings over 100 people. The first case of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 was reported on 5 […]
21 February, 2020
Contrary to the long-held general perception that most doctors in Malta support the current legislation, the SRHM study, Abortion and methods of reproductive planning: the views of Malta’s medical doctor cohort, provides evidence that this is not the case The below is taken from an article covering the SRHM paper in Malta Today by Gilbert […]
10 February, 2020
“Women’s rights are human rights. This includes sexual and reproductive rights — and the right to access safe and legal abortions.” Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy Unsafe abortion is one of the top causes of global maternal mortality, and it is entirely preventable. Every year, there are more than 25 million unsafe abortions, resulting in […]
19 January, 2020
On Thursday 16 January 2020 SRHM held a webinar to discuss a new wave of anti-abortion strategy and tactics that has been sweeping across the United States and has begun influencing anti-abortion strategy globally. In this webinar, we welcomed Dabney Evans and Subasri Narasimhan to introduce their paper, “A narrative analysis of anti-abortion testimony and legislative debate […]
7 January, 2020
Press release by Taylor and Francis Read the media coverage by TIME, Newsweek, and The American Prospect. New research launches as state legislatures begin reconvening where bans are likely to be introduced Anti-abortionists ‘appropriating’ laws that protect same-sex couples and Black citizens Pro-lifers are using civil rights protections to lobby against early abortions, according to research published in […]
19 December, 2019
It has been a year of significant achievements for SRHM and for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) community as a whole. Along with the SRHR community, in 2019 we commemorated the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, culminating in the Nairobi ICPD25 summit in November. We acknowledge and […]
10 December, 2019
On Human Rights Day 2019, SRHM is calling for a greater sense of accountability for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all, backed by a growing research and evidence base on gender equality and human rights. Together we can further advance a progressive SRHR agenda, providing the greatest hope and a powerful bulwark […]
10 December, 2019
Press release by Taylor and Francis Despite being criminalised in 2018, an estimated 77% of girls in mid-Western Nepal are still being forced to sleep outside in “menstruation huts” during their period, according to a new study published today in Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters. All around the world, girls and women suffer […]
25 November, 2019
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign that takes place each year. It commences on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. The extent of violence against women and girls across the world is alarming and is […]
18 November, 2019
THE BMJ OPINION Domestic political alliances with conservative forces in the US is costing women their health at home and abroad The Trump administration’s ideological commitment to the domestic anti-abortion lobby is endangering women across the Americas, say Hani Serag et al SRHM article, Power and Politics in International Funding for Reproductive Health: the […]
8 November, 2019
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, where 179 governments adopted a landmark Programme of Action which set out to empower women and girls for their sake, and for the benefit of their families, communities and nations. We have made incredible gains since then, but […]
27 October, 2019
Eszter Kismődi, Chief Executive of Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) interviews Mindy Roseman, Director of International Law Programs and Director of the Gruber Program for Global Justice and Women’s Rights at Yale Law, and SRHM associate editor, about her new book, Beyond Virtue and Vice: Rethinking Human Rights and Criminal Law. The book engages […]
22 October, 2019
Written by: Soukeyna Diallo, Juriste, Member, Comité de plaidoyer pour l’accès à l’avortement médicalisé, and l’Association des Juristes Sénégalaises; Heidi Moseson, Epidemiologist & Associate, Ibis Reproductive Health Ramatou Ouedraogo, Post-doctoral research scholar/Anthropologist, African Population Health Research Center Amy Sakho, Chargée de Programmes et de Communication, Association des Juristes Sénégalaises; Coordonnatrice, Comité de plaidoyer pour l’accès […]
10 October, 2019
By Christopher Purdy, President and CEO of DKT International. The Monty Python film, “The Meaning of Life”, includes an opening scene where a couple talk about sex. In this entertaining exchange, Mr. and Mrs. Blackitt discuss how they can use contraception during sex to avoid pregnancy, raising an eyebrow from his wife who points out that […]
10 October, 2019
On Tuesday 8 October 2019 SRHM held a webinar to discuss the gender injustice perspectives of criminal abortion laws, the importance of using public health evidence in challenging criminalization of abortion, and exploring ways to connect these important discourses to the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda. We welcomed the authors of two important […]
27 September, 2019
We are very grateful to Liza Caruana-Finkel for collaborating on this blog post. Liza is a sexual and reproductive health and rights researcher and activist currently based in the UK. Rights and evidence-based knowledge on safe abortion matters! The 28th of September is International Safe Abortion Day. It is a day of action: when […]
25 September, 2019
Written by Verity Pooke, ESRC PhD Candidate in Social Policy at the University of Kent, and Clare Murphy, Director of External Affairs at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service The focus of World Contraception Day is to improve awareness of all contraceptive methods available and enable everyone to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive […]
12 September, 2019
Bhekisisa Health Inside the illegal abortion market: ‘I nearly touched hell’ By Wendy Muperi Zimbabwe’s tight abortion laws aren’t curbing demand, they’re driving them underground — and it’s about to get worse. SRHM article, Perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women seeking post-abortion care in Zimbabwe by M Catherine Maternowska, Alexio Mashu, Precious Moyo, et […]
4 September, 2019
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) has a visible and declared commitment to sexual health and sexual rights. We firmly believe that the recognition of sexual health and sexual rights cannot be optional in the reality of today’s world. It is central for everyone, and it “Matters”! We are committed to publishing research and evidence, […]
3 September, 2019
Eszter Kismődi, Chief Executive of Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) interviews Richa Kaul Padte on her book Cyber Sexy: Rethinking Pornography. This interview took place at reconference- rethink, reimagine, reboot– a global conference organised by CREA. Cyber Sexy is a book about pornography and online sex cultures in South Asia and beyond and was published on […]
20 June, 2019
Each year, the number of people affected by humanitarian emergencies continues to increase. Addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of people affected by such emergencies is a global issue of critical importance. The respect, protection and fulfilment of sexual and reproductive rights of those affected by humanitarian crisis requires evidence and human rights-based action […]
19 June, 2019
Written by Dominique Vidale-Plaza, Gender Based Violence Specialist, Mukwege Foundation While the prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has become a hot-topic issue in recent years, victims still remain largely without access to critical, and in some cases, life-saving assistance. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly CRSV[1], must cope with […]
15 June, 2019
Written by the Community for Understanding Scale Up (CUSP) Read the recent paper by the authors, On the CUSP: the politics and prospects of scaling social norms change programming How is meaningful impact defined in international development? Does it mean reaching “W” number of people? Conducting “X” trainings? Spending “Y” amount of money? Improving “Z” indicators? […]
11 June, 2019
Eszter Kismődi, Chief Executive of Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) interviews Katrina Karkazis, anthropologist, bioethicist and SRHM editorial advisory board member, on her upcoming book, Testosterone: An Unauthorized Biography, co-authored with Rebecca Jordan-Young. This interview took place at reconference- rethink, reimagine, reboot– a global conference organised by CREA. The book will be out in […]
27 May, 2019
By Maria Carmen Punzi (PSI/Europe), Odette Hekster (PSI/Europe), Chelsea Polis (Guttmacher Institute), Rubina Hussain (Guttmacher Institute) and Amanda Berry (Guttmacher Institute) Image by Kimber Beck (www.bimberkeck.com) Menstruation profoundly affects the way women and girls experience life, form their identities and make decisions about their bodies and sexualities. Despite how important menstruation is throughout girls and […]
20 May, 2019
Written by Naomhán O’Connor, Communications Officer, GATE (Global Action for Trans* Equality) Historically, the movement for reproductive rights and justice hasn’t been the most trans-inclusive space. Reproductive justice is, in essence, about the right to have a child, or to not have a child. For trans and gender diverse people, this goes beyond access to […]
5 May, 2019
This interview was conducted by Ruby Irene Pratka, a freelance journalist currently working with Cuso International as a volunteer communications advisor for the Midwives Save Lives (MSL) project in Africa. MSL, a four-year initiative in Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia and Tanzania led by Cuso International in partnership with the Canadian Association of […]
2 May, 2019
Written by Marion Stevens, Director, Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition Reproductive Justice is defined by three principles: The right to have child; the right not to have a child; and the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. Twenty years after the evolution of the concept in the United States, the government of […]
30 April, 2019
April was Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Over the past month we have shared relevant papers from Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) journal on our social media platforms, with the aim of raising public awareness about sexual assault. We have grouped these papers here for easy access. SRHM acknowledges that sexual assault is not limited […]
19 April, 2019
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) aims to promote laws, policies, research and services that meet women’s sexual and reproductive health needs; to examine experiences, values, issues and information from the point of view of the women whose lives are affected; to motivate improvements in policy, services and practice; and to inspire new thinking and […]
18 April, 2019
Current policies to protect girls at risk of genital mutilation are invasive and traumatising, study finds Press release by Taylor & Francis Press & Media Relations team. Current policies aimed at protecting European African girls at risk of genital mutilation – including compulsory genital examinations and persistent questioning by police – can be invasive and traumatic for […]
1 April, 2019
Written by Vincent Fauveau, Montpellier, France, former UNFPA adviser for maternal health and rights at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) TIME FOR CULTURE: A WORLDWIDE TOUR OF REPRESENTATIONS OF FECUNDITY IN ART THROUGH THE AGES AND ACROSS CULTURES “My professional life has been mostly spent in the area of international maternal and […]
23 March, 2019
Written by Mauro Cabral Grinspan, Executive Director of GATE, an international organization working on gender identity, sex characteristics and, more broadly, on bodily diversity issues. One night some years ago, I woke up from a nightmare with a recurrent thought pulsing in my mind. When I was five years old two inguinal hernias had […]
7 March, 2019
On International Women’s Day, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) recognizes the great strides that have been achieved in securing sexual and reproductive rights for women but also gives recognition to the fragility of these gains and the urgent and ongoing need to continue to fight for those rights. IN A WORLD WHERE SOCIAL […]
28 February, 2019
Zero Discrimination day: The Elimination of Stigma and Discrimination in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care In many countries, laws result in people being treated differently, excluded from essential services or being subject to undue restrictions on how they live their lives, simply because of who they are. Such laws are discriminatory—they deny human rights and […]
15 February, 2019
Reshma Valliappan aka Val Resh is Founder-Director of The Red Door, India. An Ashoka and Ink Fellow, Resh teaches sex-gender education with a focus on empathy and emotional health for boys and girls in community schools. She is also a painter, published writer, mime artist, speaker, and the protagonist of an award-winning documentary ‘A Drop […]
13 February, 2019
In February 2019, Reproductive Health Matters (RHM) changes its name to Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM). Sexual health and rights have always been a part of the discourse of RHM, and we wished to fully represent the breadth and extensiveness of sexual health and rights, and reproductive health and rights, in our name. We […]
11 February, 2019
11 February marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. We asked our two interns on work experience at SRHM, studying Global Health at the University of Aberdeen, about their experiences as women involved in the research and practice of global health and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Laetitia Kayitesi As […]
6 February, 2019
Written by Judit Sándor, Professor at the Central European University, Budapest, Director of the Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine When a social scientist reads professional articles written by biomedical researchers on stem cells, she always encounters acronyms (such as ES/iPS, PGCs, hES, VSELs, PGCs) by which the various sources of stem cells […]
28 January, 2019
RHM article Cytotec in Brazil: ‘At least it doesn’t kill’ (1993) by Margareth Arilha and Regina Maria Barbosa has been cited in two articles in The Conversation: Is the future of abortion online?, and a French article, Avorter « en ligne » pour contourner les législations restrictives (Abortion “online” to circumvent restrictive legislation). The RHM paper is used to show that long before the […]
20 December, 2018
With 2018 coming to a close and a new year almost upon us, this seems a good time to reflect on the events of the year. And what a year it has been for RHM! RHM celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this month in London, joined by supporters and friends, old and new. The panel […]
12 December, 2018
Reproductive Health Matters (RHM) recently attended and exhibited at the fifth International Family Planning Conference in Kigali, Rwanda from 12-15 November 2018. The theme for this year’s conference was “Investing for a Lifetime of Returns.” This year, there was a strong theme of humanitarian crises running through the conference sessions. RHM spoke to several members of the The […]
7 December, 2018
Written by Judit Sándor, Professor at the Central European University, Budapest, Director of the Center for Ethics and Law in Biomedicine The Chinese medical researcher, He Jian-kui reported in late November that the first babies had been born with edited genomes. The scientific world seems less than enthusiastic1. The proud scientist announced that Lulu […]
1 December, 2018
In commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of World AIDS Day, RHM welcomes the news that a Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate All Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination will be launched on December 10 – Human Rights Day 2018 – and commits to publish and promote research which contributes to the elimination of stigma […]
28 November, 2018
A RHM research article, Identifying disrespect and abuse in organisational culture: a study of two hospitals in Mumbai, India, has obstetricians from government-run hospitals in Mumbai confessing to coercing women into sterilisation after their second child. Chillingly, so-called ‘consent’ is usually obtained when they are in labour. Read the full article from Mid-Day
26 November, 2018
Written by Elizabeth Dartnall, SVRI and Anik Gevers, Independent Consultant. The SVRI With over 6000 members, the SVRI (Sexual Violence Research Initiative) is one of the largest global networks for advancing research on violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC). Founded in 2003, the SVRI brings together a diverse group of actors aiming […]
19 November, 2018
Reproductive Health Matters (RHM) recently attended and exhibited at the fifth International Family Planning Conference in Kigali, Rwanda from 12-15 November 2018. The theme for this year’s conference was “Investing for a Lifetime of Returns.” RHM spoke to Mike Mbizvo, Country Director of Zambia for the Population Council and Trustee for RHM about the emerging themes […]
1 November, 2018
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH MATTERS (RHM) publishes its 53rd journal issue Disrespect and Abuse In Maternal Care: Addressing Key Challenges. The issue, edited jointly by Gita Sen, Bhavya Reddy, Aditi Iyer and Shirin Heidari, highlights concerns about abusive, disrespectful and neglectful treatment of women before, during and after childbirth in healthcare systems, and examines this problem through […]
25 October, 2018
Written by Morgan Carpenter, GATE, New York, USA; Intersex Human Rights Australia; and Sydney Health Ethics, The University of Sydney, Australia. The New York Times recently disclosed that the Trump administration may seek to redefine gender to refer to two unchangeable biologically-determined sex categories [1]. As can be seen in many of the responses […]
23 October, 2018
Written by Dr. Stephen Bell, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Australia* Associate Professor Angela Kelly-Hanku, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Australia; and PNG Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR), Goroka, PNG This blog is presented on behalf of the authorship team of this recently published article. *Corresponding author: sbell@kirby.unsw.edu.au Despite persistent international attention, adolescent pregnancy remains a […]
10 October, 2018
Written by Emma Campbell: Artist, activist, lapsed academic and Abortion Nerd®, all of which she throws into her role as Co-Chair for Alliance for Choice. Learning from previous generations of feminist artists and activists, she illuminates the structural inequalities that face abortion seekers and activists through education, art, campaigning and disruption. The 25th of May 2018 […]
27 September, 2018
Written by Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng: Abortion provider for 11 years, consultant at Nalane for Reproductive Justice and SRHR expert with a focus on policy, health communications and advocacy. It is 2:14 a.m. on a Friday. I receive an email, with the subject line “Please respond” written in capital letters. I read the body of the email and […]
4 September, 2018
In 2010, the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) called all their organisations to celebrate, on each September 4th, World Sexual Health Day in an effort to promote a greater social awareness on sexual health across the globe.The theme for 2018 is ‘Sexual health and sexual rights are fundamental for wellbeing’. Reproductive Health Matters promotes […]
20 August, 2018
Following a study from Kolkata published in the RHM Journal, Experiences of Sexual Harassment of Women Health Workers in Four Hospitals in Kolkata, India, an initiative has been launched by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) team to help female doctors facing sexual harassment. Read the full article by Times of India
18 August, 2018
World Humanitarian Day is held every year on 19 August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. Written by Sarah Knaster, Senior Advisor, Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises on behalf of the Data and […]
2 August, 2018
From the AIDS 2018 Conference held in Amsterdam, twenty of the world’s leading HIV scientists launched an evidence-based consensus on 25 July 2018 that systematically refutes the rationale for laws that criminalize HIV transmission. The “Expert Consensus Statement on the Science of HIV in the Context of Criminal Law”and an accompanying editorial were published in the Journal of […]
23 July, 2018
Written by Lizzie Kiama, Founding Director at This-Ability. She is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Bodies are where we put our theories of social justice into practice. It therefore follows that the categories in which bodies are placed, willingly or unwillingly, need to be subject to careful critique. In a society driven by narrow, visual […]
22 July, 2018
Reproductive Health Matters recently attended the 22nd International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam. The theme of AIDS 2018 is “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges”, drawing attention to the need of rights-based approaches to more effectively reach key populations. This year, the conference has also emphasized the need to join the SRHR and HIV response specifically. “Poor sexual […]
17 July, 2018
Written by Nina Sun, Global Advocacy Advisor at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Access to evidence-based, unbiased and scientifically accurate health information is one of the foundational pillars of medical ethics, as well as the right to health. While this is important in any interaction with the health system, access to accurate information is […]
12 July, 2018
Written by Cynthia Rothschild, a feminist activist and author who focuses on human rights, sexuality, gender and UN advocacy. She’s based in New York. The United Nations’ leading expert on poverty recently issued a fiery report condemning poverty in the USA and the calculated decisions and policies that lead to it. Philip Alston, the UN […]
7 June, 2018
Written by Dr Ben Kasstan (Research Fellow, University of Sussex) and Ms Anamaria Bejar (Director of Advocacy at International Planned Parenthood Federation, UK; Research student, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) On Friday, 25 May 2018, voters in Ireland unanimously decided to repeal article 40.3.3 inserted into the Irish constitution by its Eighth Amendment, which, […]
10 April, 2018
RHM research, Gender norms as health harms: reclaiming a life course perspective on sexual and reproductive health and rights, shows that “older women tend to withhold information about their sexual health needs to health care providers or do not seek out sexual health services” which impacts sexual wellbeing as a key component of sexual and reproductive health care. […]
30 January, 2018
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the Editorial Advisory Board, I would like to thank Shirin Heidari for her achievements and enthusiasm in maintaining RHM on the cutting edge of developments in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are sad to see her leave but wish her all success […]
25 December, 2017
Reproductive Health Matters is pleased to present its latest journal issue Humanitarian crises: advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights All articles are available open access via our journal website: www.rhmjournal.org TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORIAL: Care with dignity in humanitarian crises: ensuring sexual and reproductive health and rights of displaced populations Monica Onyango, Shirin Heidari […]
21 December, 2017
Time flies! It is hard to believe that already a year has passed since I wrote my blog summarising 2016. It is time to review 2017. This year started with dismaying news for the SRHR movement: the re-enactment of the Global Gag Rule, a backward policy that will have far-reaching consequences for many people around […]
9 November, 2017
RHM is pleased to present its latest journal supplement, “Gendered bodies and reproduction in the Arab countries and Turkey”. TABLE of CONTENTS Editorial: Gendered bodies and reproduction in the Arab countries and Turkey Jocelyn DeJong and Shirin Heidari Health research in a turbulent region: the Reproductive Health Working Group Jocelyn DeJong, Huda Zurayk, Cynthia Myntti […]
25 June, 2017
RHM is pleased to present its latest journal issue, “Disability and sexuality: claiming sexual and reproductive rights”.
26 May, 2017
RHM would like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Tedros on his appointment as the new Director-General of the World Health Organization. We note with support Dr. Tedros’ commitment to ensuring that the well-being of women, children and adolescents is placed at the centre of global health and development. Further, we urge Dr. Tedros to […]
28 December, 2016
2016 has been a turbulent year, with conservative forces gaining ground and causing women growing anxiety over lingering threats to their reproductive rights. The year also offered a few occasions for celebration: we joined in solidarity with our Polish sisters when they succeeded in stopping a proposed law which, if passed, would have made all […]
8 December, 2016
Heidi Stöckl is a lecturer in social epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Associate Editor at Reproductive Health Matters. A video interview with the author is now available online. Anna V was 36 years old when she and her seven-year old son Anton were murdered by her ex-partner and father of their […]
6 December, 2016
In January 2017, RHM journal is moving to a new publisher, Taylor&Francis, and transitioning to a fully Open Access (OA) publishing model, meaning all current and back articles for publication will be available online, free of charge, for anyone to read. What this means for RHM authors RHM will continue its long tradition of publishing themed […]
1 December, 2016
Laura Ferguson is Associate Director of the Program on Global Health & Human Rights, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Global Health at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Associate Editor at Reproductive Health Matters. World AIDS Day is a time for reflection, remembrance and re-energizing efforts to address […]
31 March, 2016
Today, March 31st, Global Action for Trans* Equality (GATE) calls for collective and critical reflection as we honor the International Day of Trans Visibility. Undoubtedly, individual and community visibility has been a key strategy to build trans* social and political movements. Visibility has played a central historical role in the ongoing work to transform our […]
21 December, 2015
Seasons Greetings from Shirin Heidari, RHM Director and Editor With the Holiday Season upon us, I want to reflect on the year that has passed and those who have made our progress and success possible. 2015 marked the transition to a new era for RHM. There has been a change in leadership, with Marge Berer […]
20 December, 2015
A guest blog by Marge Berer, Coordinator of the International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) clinic in Colorado Springs, USA, provides cancer screening, STD tests and treatment, breast exams, contraception and abortion, mostly to women. On 27 November an armed gunman entered the clinic, apparently walking […]
17 November, 2015
On November 17th 2015) the public had the unedifying experience of watching a Hollywood star, Charlie Sheen, ‘confess’ to his HIV positive status. He has already effectively been ‘outed’ by salacious newspaper columnists in the United States, UK and elsewhere. A personal health issue, that should have been a private matter has been turned into a festival of […]
16 November, 2015
A guest blog by Laura Dean, Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine “If a woman with hearing impairment is raped by soldier, it is difficult enough as it is but she is also unable to communicate. How many of the structures that help tackle violence against women and girls are […]
28 October, 2015
On the third anniversary of the preventable death of Savita Halappanavar we have collated some of the pieces on the law, policies and practices that resulted in her death; and a range of views on the new Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, the Irish government’s response to the tragic death. Termination of pregnancy as emergency obstetric care: the […]
27 October, 2015
For Intersex Awareness Day 2015 – my pick of interesting articles which capture a range of different perspectives on intersex awareness, education and activism. You might be interested to note that the CMS on this blog underlines both intersex and Intersex as spelling mistakes. Maybe this tells us something about intersex (in)visibility. Education and awareness […]
21 September, 2015
A guest blog by Amy Hall, Institute of Development Studies Sex work is an issue which has divided feminists for decades, with the debate often focused on the law and how it should apply in the safest way. It is argued, including by sex workers’ organisations, that the best way is through decriminalisation. Some favour regulation, […]
5 August, 2015
A guest blog by Mihoko Tanabe, senior program officer, sexual and reproductive health program, Women’s Refugee Commission Community health workers (CHWs) forge a river to cross from Thailand into Myanmar (Burma), laden with rape kits and several months of medical supplies. They trek through the dense jungle for two or three days before finally arriving in […]
21 July, 2015
A guest post by Marge Berer Co-ordinator International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion originally posted on the Berer Blog Taking medical abortion pills at home to have an abortion, mostly before ten weeks of pregnancy, though not always, is happening in most countries across the world, and each year more than ever. It is […]
14 July, 2015
A guest blog post by Dr Ruth Fletcher r.fletcher[at]qmul.ac.uk “First, and perhaps most importantly, we were determined to design a law that would regulate abortion in Ireland by primary reference to the bodily integrity, welfare, agency, autonomy and self-determination of pregnant women” On 29th June @feministsatlaw, an open access journal, published draft abortion legislation for […]
21 May, 2015
A film by Brenda Davis. 2014. 86 minutes. Multiple languages with English sub-titles. A review by Sarah Rudrum Woman and child, Tigray, Ethiopia Following the challenging work of health care providers in Ethiopia, Cambodia, and Haiti, Sister introduces personal stories that illustrate factors contributing to ongoing high rates of maternal mortality. In Tigray, Ethiopia, Goitom […]
18 May, 2015
A guest blog by Sarah Rudrum When I wrote my dissertation about the social organization of maternity care and birth in Amuru, northern Uganda, it began with an account of a legal case spearheaded by The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD). The case alleged that government had violated the human rights of […]
6 May, 2015
A Guest Blog Post by Erica Nelson, PhD, Independent Consultant – originally published by Healthy Teen Network Estimados colegas, this post is directed at those of you working to improve the sexual and reproductive health of Latino teens, to share the research findings from a Latin American public health project. Proyecto CERCA, or “Community Embedded […]
26 March, 2015
A film by Holen Sabrina Kahn and Alessandra Zek, Chicken & Egg Pictures, 2014 (65 min), in Spanish with English subtitles A review by Marge Berer This is a film about Daniel Ortega’s betrayal of Nicaraguan women. Made over a period of several years, this documentary film features the experiences of young, rural, pregnant women […]
9 March, 2015
I am very pleased to announce that Dr Shirin Heidari has been appointed as the new Director and Editor of RHM as of 1st March 2015. RHM is about to go through a number of changes ‒ no longer being a print journal, becoming online only, publishing more frequently, entering more fully into the electronic publication […]
9 March, 2015
Dear friends of Reproductive Health Matters, It is a privilege to join RHM as the Journal’s new editor and director of the organisation. The honour is combined with the great responsibility attached to replacing an outstanding predecessor. Marge Berer, the founder of RHM, has been an excellent editor and a tireless advocate for sexual and […]
10 February, 2015
Marge Berer – Editor, Reproductive Health Matters 10th February 2015 This was a case that should never have been allowed to happen. While female genital mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice and needs to stop, the UK government, politicians from David Cameron on down, and especially the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Director of Public Prosecutions […]
16 December, 2014
Written by Jonathan Broad (MBChB, MClinEd), Research Associate in Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol. Jonathan Broad has an interest in global health and the social circumstances, particularly in childhood, which underpin lifelong health inequalities. I read with great interest Sundari Ravindran’s call for advocacy against neoliberal globalisation and its damaging effect on reproductive health through […]
29 November, 2010
RHM would like to extend our congratulations to Dr. Tedros on his appointment as the new Director-General of the World Health Organization. We note with support Dr. Tedros’ commitment to ensuring that the well-being of women, children and adolescents is placed at the centre of global health and development. Further, we urge Dr. Tedros to […]