Conference: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights – Life Saving Services in Humanitarian Settings

We would like to welcome you to this conference co-hosted by; The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norwegian Church Aid, CARE Norway, Save the Children Norway and Sex og Politikk/IPPF Norway.

The conference report can be accessed here.

 

Globally, 32.3 million women and girls refugees are affected disproportionately by emergencies and face multiple risks related to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), requiring access to key services, including contraception and safe and legal abortion. During conflict or natural disaster, family and social structures are often disrupted, and educational, health and social services are discontinued. Women, children and adolescents, especially girls, are at increased risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV on flight and in host-countries. At the same time, adolescents in crisis settings have the same need for SRHR information and services as in non- crisis settings. However, adequate prevention and SRHR services are often lacking, particularly youth friendly services that have proven to be much needed.

 

The conference aims to give a broader understanding of the “why” and “how” of SRHR in humanitarian crisis relating to the broader international commitments and frameworks with interactive sharing of good practices and experiences. The discussions will feed into the new humanitarian strategy, which the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently is developing.

 

The conference will also be a Norwegian launch of the newly revised Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), the internationally agreed on tool for implementing SRHR in crisis introducing the new elements of the MISP with concrete examples from the field.

 

Speakers:

The Conference will draw speakers from UN and international actors such as; UNFPA, WHO, IAWG, Save the Children, Care, NCA, IPPF and others. These will bring their experience in both implementation and policy/guidelines, and give examples from current work, such as in Cox Bazar.

 

Draft agenda:

8:30 – Registration

9:00 – Opening address by MFA and co-host

9:30 – Setting the scene – SRHR in humanitarian settings

10:30 – Coffee break

11:00 – Norwegian launch of the revised MISP

13:00 – Lunch

14:00 – The way forward – group discussions on selected topics such as; Integration and coordination

of SRHR, Safe abortion, Youth & Adolescents, SGBV and SRHR and other.

16:30 – Closing remarks

 

The conference is free of charge and participants will be served a light lunch. For any questions contact Kjersti Augland at Sex og Politikk, kjersti@sexogpolitikk.no. Please register here: https://no.surveymonkey.com/r/SRHRinHumSettings by 21 May!