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<br><b> Subject: Mobilise On May 28th! Sexual and Reproductive Rights are Human Rights<br></b><br> <br> To All Defenders of Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Justice, Defenders<br> of Women’s Human Rights & Defenders of the Right to Health:<br> <br> May 28th, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health is fast<br> approaching. Join thousands of people around the world in celebration of<br> this day, to defend reproductive and sexual rights as universal,<br> indivisible human rights and mobilise for reproductive justice. Why take<br> action this year?<br> <br> *BECAUSE sexual and reproductive rights continue to be denied within<br> international, regional and national forums, while those who exercise<br> these rights- including lesbian/gay/bi/trans/queer communities – are<br> persecuted and even subjected to the death penalty.<br><br> *BECAUSE abortion services, abortion providers and midwives performing<br> homebirths are increasingly criminalised.<br> <br> * BECAUSE health initiatives continue to subject marginalised women - and<br> in particular, those who are living with HIV/AIDS - to coercive<br> contraceptive ‘counseling sessions’ and sterilisation operations without<br> full consent.<br> <br> *BECAUSE religious, political and economic extremisms that promote<br> patriarchal, conservative, and exclusionary ideologies, while normalizing<br> violations of the rights to bodily autonomy and to freedom from sexual<br> violence, are on the rise.<br> <br> * BECAUSE there are increasing incidences of femicide and brutal ‘honour<br> killings’ worldwide.<br> <br> * BECAUSE hope remains alive in the advances made in some national and<br> international contexts.<br> <br> We hope you will join us on May 28th in a coordinated call to defend<br> sexual and reproductive rights!<br> <br> For more details about the challenges ahead, victories to celebrate and<br> community mobilisation ideas, check out the 2011 May 28th Call to Action<br> by the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights: “Sexual and<br> Reproductive Rights are Human Rights! Defend and Mobilise for<br> Reproductive Justice!”<br> <br> The growing list of events being organised worldwide on May 28th is posted<br> and updated online at www.wgnrr.org<br> If you haven’t already contacted WGNRR to let us know the actions your<br> organisation will be taking don’t hesitate to be in touch:<br> -If you’re in Africa, email: nondo@wgnrr.org<br> -If you’re in Asia or the Pacific, email: bing@wgnrr.org<br> -If you’re in Europe, email: corine@wgnrr.org<br> -If you’re in the Americas, email: irina@wgnrr.org<br> For general campaign related questions, email office@wgnrr.org.<br> <br> In Solidarity ~ For Reproductive, Sexual and Gender Justice,<br> WGNRR Campaigns Team<br><br>> <br> </body>
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