<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><i><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Greetings from the Gender Justice and Health Group!</span></i><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">You have been in our thoughts in these challenging times as our
people, countries and regions grapple with the struggles and injustices
exacerbated by Covid-19. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Social, global solidarity and gender justice has probably never
been more relevant than at this moment when physical distancing, isolation and
lock downs are the norms in many of our countries and regions. And the
deep-seated structures of inequality, the failures of neo-liberal political
leadership stare at us in this time of intersecting crisis as well as responses
to them. Most critically, the inherent relationships of these political,
economic and social structures to the health and well-being of the people are
being witnessed everyday across countries and regions. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">While we as individuals, experts, activists, feminists, thinkers,
families, partners, peers, communities, countries, regions and the world
witness and face this crisis in similar and varying ways, it is critical
to reflect, recognize and prioritise the needs and experiences of
the most vulnerable communities across the globe. In India, we find ourselves
in lockdowns and quarantine situations now as preventive/control measure to
check Covid-19 spread- we simultaneously witness deeply disturbing scenarios of
discrimination, lost livelihoods, poor access to food, shelter,
information, and health care being faced by a large number of the
socially and economically vulnerable communities - daily wage workers, homeless,
sex workers, migrants, persons with disabilities and mental health issues,
etc. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">As the gender justice and health circle, there is also need to
understand and visibilise the gendered impact of COVID-19 and State responses
to the pandemic. We draw attention particularly to the issues of domestic
violence, especially in the current context of lockdowns and isolation. Issues
of violence against frontline health workers, a majority of whom in India for
example are women, is extremely critical. The current context is also a
tremendous challenge for mental health; distress due to social, economic loss
and physical isolation, the burden of labour as health workers, or reproductive
work, etc. are being witnessed increasingly. Further, the burden of the
gendered nature of care work within homes including household work in
situations of lock-down is exacerbated, with serious impact on physical and
psychosocial health. Access to information is another concern for girls,
women - with a substantial number not having access to sources of
information, or due to limited literacy skills. Statements on COVID from
disability rights groups have also iterated the lack of multiple formats in
which information is disseminated, which is essential for persons with disability
particularly. This impact is disproportionate when gender and disability
intersect</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">A pro-people mandate that prioritises health of all people over
profits, the dismantling of local and global inequities as necessary for health
and health care is a long standing demand by the PHM and resonates even more
emphatically in the current context. The impact of poorly resourced and
governed public health systems, privatization, the lack of adequate attention
to health care workers’ s particularly the front line workers rights and safety
a looming shortage of PPE, ventilators are being experienced more
deeply and wider scale now.</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Access to essential health services, include continued access to
maternal health services, safe abortion services, contraception d NCD drugs,
access to anti-tubercular and anti-retroviral drugs, access to dialysis
services, cancer chemotherapy to name a few.</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">PHM-India is consistently engaged in policy advocacy and community
/ public engagement on the issue; </span><span lang="EN-IN"><span><u><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black">HERE</span></u></span></span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN"> is the link for a brief summary update on PHM India’s response to
the situation. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Some of the issues raised therein may resonate with the contexts
in several regions and countries represented in this group. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">The demand and struggle for Health for All assumes even more
significance now. Our collective voices for health rights and justice must be
amplified. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">We urge you to write and share your experiences; about the
situation, the challenges and responses in your parts of the world. particularly how
it is affecting women, persons with disability, sex workers, indegenous
communities, dalit communities, migrants, homeless and other vulnerable groups
including women in prisons Please do write if there is a need for
information resources in this context and if you have information and materials
to share. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">We firmly believe that as the gender justice health group of PHM,
reflections of the diverse contexts that we live in and particularly on
the gendered impact of the situation would be critical. These reflections
are also necessary to iterate that while COVID 19 is a current challenge, our
vision must be one of a just, inclusive and healthy world. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">We are exploring the possibilities of virtual discussion through a
webinar and will revert with details. Any further ideas or suggestions for the
group to engage collectively in addition to email exchanges, are most welcome.</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">We, once again, express our
solidarity with all your struggles. These isolated conditions have also
reminded some of us about the potential of virtual connections and
communications and we wish to stay connected as a group on a more regular
basis.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Look forward to
collectively reflecting, sharing and strategizing. </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN"> </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">We look forward to hearing
from you.</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN"> </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">With all of you in our
thoughts, with warm wishes.</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN"> </span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Stay safe, take care.</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 10pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">In Solidarity,</span><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Sarojini N</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Coordinator of Gender, Justice &
Health Thematic Group, People’s Health Movement(PHM)</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN">Deepa & Adsa from Sama Resource Group for
Women and Health </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black" lang="EN-IN"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman"" lang="EN-IN"><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Calibri"><span lang="EN-IN"><span> </span></span></p>
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