Rights based SRH organizations incorporate access, quality, effectiveness, efficiency and equity principles in their programs. Most organizations additionally emphasize democracy, justice, transparency and accountability.  To find out whether these abstract values and principles are guiding programs in the field, organizations should develop broad based mechanisms through an entitlement approach by including a wide range of stakeholders. The IPPF South Asia Regional Office has adapted a methodology called Social Audit in which stakeholders including the community conduct an investigation in to most of the aspects mentioned above. Using this methodology, Social Audits are being conducted by IPPF Member Associations in South Asia . To know more about this methodology, write to: access@ippfsar.org

Research Summary: The latest research report published by SIDA titled AIDS, Gender and Masculinities (available at: http://www.sida.se/sida/jsp/sida.jsp?d=1542&a=32257&language=en_US demonstrates how important it is for men to take responsibility as equal partners in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The vital role of sexual relations in the transmission of HIV has brought to the open debates on men, women, sexuality and gender relations. These debates link to the wider field of human rights, women’s rights, and the rights of sexual minorities. The report argues that much remains to be done in terms of understanding and responding to the necessity of male risk behavior transformation at all levels, for real progress to be made in responding to the epidemic.  Strategically, two widely different target groups need to be addressed to support positive changes in gender relations. One consists of the young men and women forming their gender identities while living in fear of becoming HIV positive. Many might need guidance not only in their private lives but also in how to ‘mainstream’ AIDS within their social and professional roles. The other consists of the structures and organizations whose work embodies practices of gender relations, but not yet adapted to the world of AIDS. Government departments, culture and media producers, marketing agents and those in religious and other services – all should know the fundamentals of gender relations and how to revise policies and priorities accordingly. Men’s violence is but one aspect of the complex relations between men’s conduct of their lives and HIV/AIDS. Numerous initiatives have been taken to empower women and strengthen their abilities to withstand health threats such as HIV. There is a need for similar work in relation to men.

Resources: Teaching Adults to Communicate with Youth from a Muslim Perspective is a workshop manual to encourage open discussion about sexuality in the context of Islam. Workshop participants learn communication skills and factual information as linked to religious teachings. Download from:

http://www.fhi.org/NR/rdonlyres/ejy3yofvjcuco7sti4n5obsjprixlf4ghwofj4mcpsdcprvdrtpjor4dz4xofouaoaeeru54hnbirm/MFLEcurriculum.pdf

News: Quality/Calidad/Qualité, a publication of the Population Council presents innovative programs in SRHR. One of its recent issues (no.18) presents a case study titled Living up to their name: Profamilia takes on gender-based violence (available at: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/qcq/QCQ18.pdf) which describes the steps taken by Profamilia (the IPPF member association in the Dominican Republic) to provide services to women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence.

Events: The Marie Stopes International in association with IPAS and Abortion Rights will organise a global conference in London from 23 to 24 October 2007 to “confront both international and national issues associated with abortion, focusing on rights, access, advocacy and funding”. For details and registration visit: http://www.globalsafeabortion.org/. The conference will also mark the 40th anniversary (27 October, 2007) of the United Kingdom's 1967 Abortion Act.

Please send your feedback/information etc. to access@ippfsar.org

IPPF SARO Team