Jan 13, 2017, by Safe Abortion
The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) has been working since 1993 to champion women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). They try to achieve this through interlinked strategies of information and communications for change, monitoring and research for evidence-based advocacy, strengthening partnerships for advocacy and organisational development.
Their January 2017 e-newsletter, Issue 1, highlights five short videos on SRHR issues in Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, and Philippines. We highlight two of them here, which are on safe abortion in Cambodia and Nepal, both countries that have legalised early abortions, highlighting the fact that many women are not yet aware of this. You can view the whole newsletter here. You can watch the two videos at the links below:
Safe Abortion Services in Cambodia
The Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia shows that while access to safe abortion services is legal in the country, there is still a need to raise awareness on this to ensure that women have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Safe Abortion with Quality of Care, Nepal
The Beyond Beijing Committee in Nepal’s video shows that while access to safe abortion services is legal in the country, there is still a need to raise awareness on this to ensure that women have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Publication of the video coincides with a report they have just published, entitled Report on status of abortion stigma in Nepal.pdf. Based on the finding of the report we had very good policy dialogue at the central level with the government, non -government and with Ipas-Nepal.
Shanta Laxmi Shrestha, lead researcher on the Beyond Beijing Committee report, is going to speak on “How SDGs can be translated into actions, especially to assure SRHR in Nepal + situation of abortion stigma” on 16 January 2017 in the national consultation on “Achieving universal access to sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Leaving no one behind” .
Lastly, she advises that the Guidelines on Free Abortion Service in Public Health Facilities in Nepal in place and women in need of free services can now request these. (Guideline in Nepali with some text in English)
Source: International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion