A substantial number of maternal deaths in South Asia are attributed to complications of unsafe abortion. Restrictive laws hamper safe abortion in most of the region, but even where laws are more liberal, limited awareness of the law has been a barrier to access. Such health system barriers as an insufficient number of trained providers, inequitable distribution of services, and excessive costs have contributed to death from unsafe abortion. Socio-cultural attitudes, including the right of male relatives to make reproductive decisions, the emphasis on male heirs, and the strong social stigma against extramarital pregnancy also put women at risk. IPPF MAs in this region strive to prevent abortion-related death and disability by making appropriate services accessible to the fullest extent of the law by particularly addressing the needs of socially and economically vulnerable sub groups.

Research Summary: A recent issue of IDS policy briefing titled Sexuality and Development (Issue 29, available at

http://www.genie.ids.ac.uk/forumdocs/si20060629124606.pdf) argues that sexual rights are more than the right to freedom from violence and coercion - they include the right to seek pleasure and fulfillment and an enabling environment in which to do so.   Development has generally treated sexuality as a problem – considering it only in relation to population control, family planning, disease and violence. However, sexuality has far broader impacts on people’s well-being and ill-being. Using Robert Chambers’ framework of the multiple dimensions of poverty, this IDS Policy Briefing highlights the many links between sexuality and poverty and suggests constructive ways to engage with sexuality as a development issue. It looks at how we can take a broader and more positive approach to sexuality, and how we can foster an environment that enables people to live out healthier, happier sexualities free from violence and fear. It gives examples of action which shifts the focus from negative to positive, from violence to pleasure, and shows how development can approach sexuality through health, human rights and sexual rights, gender and religion.

Resources: Safe Abortion – Technical and policy guidance for health systems published by the WHO is a comprehensive overview of actions that health professionals and others both inside and outside of government can take to ensure the provision of safe, good-quality abortion services. Specifically, it offers an overview of the public health challenge, including clinical aspects of care, health system issues, and the legal, regulatory and policy environment for improving both quality and accessibility of care. Download the document from:

http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/safe_abortion/safe_abortion.pdf

News: The Ministry of Health and Population of the Government of Nepal conferred Population Award 2007 to Family Planning Association of Nepal for its contribution in the reproductive health and population sector in the country at a special ceremony organized on the occasion of World Population Day 2007. In addition to this, Krishna Prasad Bista, the new Director General of FPAN was awarded the National Civil Society Facilitation – 2007.

Events:   IPPF SARO will organize a series of training programmes to develop strong counseling skills (to deal with loss of self esteem, trauma and guilt) in the region for counselors in its member associations. The first training of trainers in this series is scheduled from 5 – 9 August 2007 in Bangkok. To know more about the training and also on the training manual to be developed on the same theme, please write to access@ippfsar.org 

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

IPPF SARO Team