#SRHRisEssential

The COVID 19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to health systems around the world. We have seen the devastating economic and social disruption where millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty. Countries that are also dealing with existing humanitarian crises and emergencies are particularly exposed to the effects of COVID 19. 

The experience with previous epidemics showed us that emergency and outbreaks have gendered impacts that disproportionately affect women, girls, and LGBTIQ+ persons. They face increased threats of sexual and other forms of violence. And having to stay at home during lockdown means being imprisoned with their abusers. Persons with disabilities, indigenous, refugees, and LGBTiQ+  who are normally left out of the health care system, will further experience the discrimination as the pandemic strain resources and services.

The scarcity of healthcare resources, isolation, and increasing ideological attacks to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) can only lead to higher maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, increased unmet need for contraception, and increased number of unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections. They also further deny women and girls their right to self-determination over their health and bodies.

The landscape for ensuring access SRHR information and services, including access to abortion, has never been easy even during “normal” times. Even before COVID-19, women and girls were dealing with multiple barriers in accessing SRHR  information and services. This public health crisis exacerbates the risks for women and girls living in intersecting vulnerabilities, particularly those in contexts with fragile economic and health systems, as financial, technological, and human resources are diverted to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The provision of sexual and reproductive health services, including safe abortion and gender-based violence related services, are essential, life-saving care. This does not change in times of crisis. If anything, rates of unintended pregnancies spike during public health emergencies or disasters, across restrictive and less restrictive settings. Regardless of the challenges, women will always need sexual and reproductive health services. Governments should continue to prioritize the delivery of essential SRH services to women and girls. Any public health strategy that is not mindful of human rights, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, will not only be inept and unsustainable but will also create an enabling environment for grave human rights violations.

More than ever, we work in solidarity and continue our collective effort to advocate SRHR for all. We must assert that women’s access to essential SRHR information and services remains critical in responding to COVID-19, SRHR is essential. Let us support many different ways advocates and grassroots communities are currently responding to the challenges related to COVID-19. The current context shows us that once again preparing, mitigating, and responding to health crises is inevitably about examining and abolishing the inequalities in our society. As we tightly hold on to our hopes for the end of this crisis, we remain steadfast in our solidarity so that we do not go back to ‘normal’, but rather come out of this with a better and just world for all.