PHM-Exch> PHM's Gender Thematic Circle

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: sarojini N.B <sarojinipr at gmail.com>  circle convener

Greetings on International Women's Day!

Happy to let you know that we have developed the concept note for the
Gender thematic circle.

*Global thematic campaign on Gender and Reproductive Justice*

*People’s Health Movement*

*8th March, 2013*

* *

At the People’s Health Assembly 3 held in Cape Town, South Africa in July
2012, People’s Health Movement committed to build a campaign on gender
issues through initiating separate circle on the *“**Global thematic
campaign on Genders”* within the PHM right to health campaign. Through the
online correspondence in these last few months, a general view of expanding
the gender circle has emerged, especially regarding specific themes of
gender, equity, and violence, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and
Reproductive Justice.



*Why a **Global thematic campaign on Gender***

We, at PHM believe that Health Rights including Sexual and Reproductive
Health Rights must be located within a perspective that recognizes social
determinants of health, and universal health entitlements/access to
healthcare. The framework should address the oppressive structures of
neo-liberal
globalization, capitalism, poverty, patriarchy, privatization of essential
services, imperialism, militarization, fundamentalisms, heteronormativity,
racism, casteism and ableism, which not only exacerbate poor physical,
sexual, reproductive and emotional health for women and young girls but
also disadvantage them in accessing health-care.

We are only too aware of how gender oppression is intricately linked to
other systems of oppression and PHM’s agenda should be to make a conscious
effort to create space and visibility for some such concerns that can often
be observed to be marginalized even within progressive, rights movements.
While they assume different forms in different contexts and social
realities, issues of ability/disability, sexuality, health in the context
of conflict, state sponsored coercive population policies, gender based
violence, non-coercive access to contraception and abortion, and especially
the rights of sex workers, transgender, HIV positive individuals in
relation to all the above are sparsely raised on the public health
platforms and health movements across the world.

There is a cyclical relation between violence and ill-health; both
influence each other, yet gender based violence is rarely addressed as a
human rights or public health issue. That violence takes varied forms and
that gendered notions make certain peoples particular targets is a question
of political violence that a movement like PHM needs to urgently address.

Historically, as we know that women’s ability to make choices and exercise
autonomy in matters of sexuality and reproduction has been conditioned and
constrained by economic, political, religious and cultural patterns,
responding to a model of prescriptive ‘normality’ and disallowing any kind
of behavior which deviates from this. The relegation of women's health to
maternity and family planning on the one hand and the concerted attack on
women's reproductive and sexual rights on the other are serious violations
of women's autonomy, personhood, dignity and human rights.



Throughout the world, society, law and cultural norms have repressed any
behaviour that could challenge this prescriptive reproductive role of
women. Reproduction itself becomes a site of coercion and social
inequality, being regulated by morality, class, caste, race hierarchies and
community. It is the same ideas of gender roles, relations and sexual
division of labour that result in coercive structures for women, and
further marginalize several persons who go against the existing
heteronormativity.



As an object of policy, sexuality and sexual rights have generally been
considered as an ‘unimportant’ and secondary issue. Women’s movements have
also only gradually given space to these debates. That sexual rights for
all are essential for better physical, mental and emotional health is a
perspective that needs a much stronger acknowledgement and activism by both
the state and social movements.



Within the health care systems, health professionals need to be sensitised
in order to address all forms of violence and discrimination on the basis
of gender within the private as well as public spheres. Health rights can
be enjoyed by all and accessed at all times only if the rights of those who
occupy low rungs in the gender hierarchy have secured rights in all spheres.

PHM is well-placed to address components of policy advocacy, capacity
building, knowledge creation and health systems engagement within this
umbrella framework.  The need is for us to foreground this perspectives in
our strategies. We can hold capacity building and advocacy initiatives for
SRHR, violence There is a need to conceptualize the campaigns/circles in a
way that we understand the common systems of oppressions and gender
hierarchies and are able to equally visiblize and address concerns of all
those who are marginalized, exploited and discriminated against on the
basis of their gender identities and sexual behaviour.

The thematic Circle will Insert all these concerns within the People’s
health movement by- informing the PHM mandate and the campaign for Health
For All and vis-à-vis gender.* *PHM will provide a platform for women
across the world to articulate the above concerns as well as to share and
learn from each other the creative struggles waged by people, especially by
women, against injustice and inequality.**

* *

PHM global has already been engaged with many networks such as WGNRR, IWHM,
ARROW, SAMA, WISH to name a few. We would like to welcome and invite
networks/organisations, coalitions to join and collaborate with us on this
initiative. *Together* we can strategise for a better world that is founded
on social justice, non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all people.

contact:  <sarojinipr at gmail.com>
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