To All Defenders of Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Justice, Defenders of Women’s Human Rights & Defenders of the Right to Health:
May 28th, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health is fast approaching. Join thousands of people around the world in celebration of this day, to defend reproductive and sexual rights as universal, indivisible human rights and mobilise for reproductive justice. Why take action this year?
*BECAUSE sexual and reproductive rights continue to be denied within international, regional and national forums, while those who exercise these rights- including lesbian/gay/bi/trans/queer communities – are persecuted and even subjected to the death penalty.
*BECAUSE abortion services, abortion providers and midwives performing homebirths are increasingly criminalised.
* BECAUSE health initiatives continue to subject marginalised women - and in particular, those who are living with HIV/AIDS - to coercive contraceptive ‘counseling sessions’ and sterilisation operations without full consent.
*BECAUSE religious, political and economic extremisms that promote patriarchal, conservative, and exclusionary ideologies, while normalizing violations of the rights to bodily autonomy and to freedom from sexual violence, are on the rise.
* BECAUSE there are increasing incidences of femicide and brutal ‘honour killings’ worldwide.
* BECAUSE hope remains alive in the advances made in some national and international contexts.
We hope you will join us on May 28th in a coordinated call to defend sexual and reproductive rights!
For more details about the challenges ahead, victories to celebrate and community mobilisation ideas, check out the 2011 May 28th Call to Action by the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights: “Sexual and Reproductive Rights are Human Rights! Defend and Mobilise for Reproductive Justice!”
The growing list of events being organised worldwide on May 28th is posted and updated online at www.wgnrr.org If you haven’t already contacted WGNRR to let us know the actions your organisation will be taking don’t hesitate to be in touch:
-If you’re in Africa, email: nondo@wgnrr.org
-If you’re in Asia or the Pacific, email: bing@wgnrr.org
-If you’re in Europe, email: corine@wgnrr.org
-If you’re in the Americas, email: irina@wgnrr.org
For general campaign related questions, email office@wgnrr.org.
In Solidarity ~ For Reproductive, Sexual and Gender Justice,
WGNRR Campaigns Team
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Nadia van der Linde
mailto:nlinde@hotmail.com