To join the online campaign from 22 June to 3 July download the toolkit here.
Women’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is a major concern affecting women, young women and girls across the globe. Many women don’t know their rights and don’t have access to adequate health services or the knowledge they need regarding their own bodies. In many cultures around the world, men or families have often been responsible for the decisions taken about the bodily rights of girls, young women and women – often without their consent. This has impacted women’s health and rights and exacerbated gender inequalities.
COVID-19 is having an impact on women, young women and girls everywhere – during the pandemic, we know women carry an even heavier load, tending to the front lines of their homes, their jobs, their families and their communities, while tending to nicks and tears and fraying corners of their own superhero capes. However, a greater part of the impact of COVID-19 is going unseen, especially for women and girls in the most vulnerable parts of the world. For many women, young women and girls around the globe, it’s even more frightening, dangerous and uncertain as they face the realities of child care, looking after sick family members, domestic violence, limited access to healthcare and extra financial strains as a result of a reduction in income and unexpected bills.
With the support from the Government of Finland, the World YWCA has developed this online campaign around Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and mental health called #MyBodyMyMind to change dominant narratives around Sexual and Health and Reproductive Rights and impacts on gender equality as a part of a larger initiative. All materials published are inspired by real incidents and were provided by YWCA leaders from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Pacific. These materials provide important information on SRHR and mental health issues that touch young women and women, and include information for young women to better know their rights and help them challenge dominant narratives. We want you to join the campaign! Tell your stories, change the narratives, advocate for your rights!
The campaign will not just provide innovative stories and materials on SRHR and mental health issues inspired from real incidents, it is aimed to provide engagement opportunities to women and young women around the world on the issue, through activities like twitter chats, virtual panels, art contests and more. The YWCA movement is working towards mobilising and investing in young women’s and girls’ empowerment, rights and leadership. The World YWCA through this project will contribute to the growing young women movement on SRHR and mental health around the world, thereby building a collective movement where young women co-design, co-create and co-decide for themselves. The outcomes and approaches of the projects are designed to align with and contribute to Goal 2035.
Watch, hear, and read the stories of leaders like Tiffany, Afia, Muskan, Meghna’, Karmen.
Download the Toolkit here.
