APHA
Back to Annual Meeting
APHA 2006 APHA
Back to Annual Meeting
APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rights based sexual and reproductive health programs and advocacy: Innovative African initiatives

Corinne N.C. Whitaker, PhD, International Women's Health Coalition, 333 7th Avenue, 6th floor, New York City, NY 10001, 212 979-8500, cwhitaker@iwhc.org

At the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt 179 countries endorsed a shift from a population control focus to one affirming and assuring the sexual and reproductive rights and health of women and young people. This global agreement and its five- and ten-year reviews of progress have been informed by and helped to reinforce sexual and reproductive health service provision, programs and policy advocacy at community and national levels. This presentation discusses selected examples of innovative African programs for adolescents and women built on the work of the women's rights community, focusing on outcomes beyond public health such as expanding choices for young women, and linking services and advocacy. It highlights some of the benefits and challenges of these programs; the early lessons learned about keys to effective implementation and the value of these experiences in advocacy for policy change. It focuses particularly on two issues: integrating the principles and strategies of the women's rights community into work on the sexual and reproductive rights and needs of young people; and strengthening the work with national level program implementers who may remain disconnected from the macro policy statements and grassroots NGO programs which have informed much of this work.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation the participant will be able to

Keywords: Adolescents, International, Women

Related Web page: www.iwhc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Rights-Based Approaches to Sexual and Reproductive Health I

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA