International movements working towards women's equal rights have focused on reproductive health and rights as fundamental to women's sovereignty and participation as citizens. In Latin America, women's health activists use health information in the context of participatory methodologies, with links to groups working at every level from national policy and international campaigns to direct grass roots organizations. This multi-tiered approach emphasizes communication, collaboration, and organized networks of activists who move their campaigns and projects forward. In connection with the completion and publication of Nuestros Cuerpos, Nuestras Vidas, we are also using the book's publicity campaign, which will take place throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Latin America, as an opportunity to connect Latinas throughout the United States with each other and with women's organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean. This paper will describe our process, progress, and plans for our evolving work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. We will describe work with a local Boston group connecting Latina reproductive health educators , Latinas Salud y Alternativas, and our evolving collaborations with women's organizations in the United States, in Puerto Rico, and throughout Latin America. The importance of linking women's health to other social justice movements will also be discussed. Finally, we will discuss the implications of this work for linking third world women's health resources more broadly to women activists in communities of color throughout the United States.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to: 1. Recognise the role of shared action for social justice in improving Latina health at individual and community levels 2. Identify key features of the International Women's Health Movement goals and platforms, as articulated in Cairo and Bejing conferences, which are relevant to U.S. Latinas
Keywords: Latinas, Social Activism
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.