EngenderHealth is pleased to share findings from a formative research assessment that explored issues associated with gender inequality, social inclusion, and female empowerment, and identified barriers to the integration of family planning in reproductive, maternal, child, adolescent health and nutrition services in pastoral and agrarian settings of Ethiopia, including in challenging settings and areas of humanitarian need.
It is essential that humanitarian responses take a coordinated approach to meeting the needs of women and girls to ensure that adequate menstrual health management (MHM) supplies are part of the prioritization and distribution plans, linked where possible to programmatic interventions such as those targeting adolescent girls, protection risk mitigation, and community leadership in the shelter sites. This strategy, developed by UNFPA and the GBV Sub-Cluster, aims to bring together those who have a role in MHM in the Gaza Strip.
Our Bodies, Our Rights! Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Gender-based Violence for Women and Young People with Disabilities
UNFPA and Women Enabled International (WEI)This interactive in-person workshop curriculum is focused on addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence. The curriculum is designed for facilitators with disabilities to provide information and experiential learning for organizations of persons with disabilities to lead future trainings in their communities.
A Proposal for a Follow-Up Algorithm for Survivors of Sexual Violence in the Context of a Humanitarian Crisis
Joana Gomes da Silva, Marta Regina Soares de Assunção, and Regina Maria Ribeiro BeloSexual violence is a continuum of actions that constitute a violation of consecrated Human Rights and that has consequences in the short, medium and long term. This issue is aggravated in situations of conflict, forced migration and natural disasters, which is why the UN has considered it one of the priorities to be primarily addressed in a crisis. In order to systematize the good practices for approaching survivors of sexual violence, the group of authors proposes the application of this algorithm as a working tool, in accordance with the standards stipulated by the World Health Organization, IAWG and UNFPA.
Global Health & Gender Policy Brief: Women and Girls in Wartime
The Wilson CenterDeveloped by the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, this policy brief explores the diverse ways women and girls are affected by conflict, both as targets of violence and as leaders for peace and security. It highlights existing US foreign policies to support, protect, and empower women and girls during conflict and the importance of creating and implementing feminist foreign policy to advance gender equality and peace. Finally, the brief offers recommendations to improve the wellbeing and acknowledgement of women’s and girls’ roles during wartime.
Committed to Leaving No One Behind
MSI Reproductive ChoicesThis report shares the contributions of the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s WISH programme, delivered in partnership across West and Central Africa, to increase disability-inclusive sexual and reproductive health and rights.The WISH programme was successful in designing innovative interventions to address and better serve clients with disabilities. At the five-year mark, we increased the proportion of people with disabilities reached from an estimated 2.5% to 5.1%.
Pregnant Women in Gaza Require Urgent Protection
Shatha Elnakib, Mollie Fair, Elke Mayrhofer, Mohamed Afifi, and Zeina JamaluddineThis joint article, published in the Lancet on 11 January 2024 by individuals from Johns Hopkins University, UNFPA, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, speaks about the situation in Gaza for pregnant and lactating women. The piece highlights the particular impact of the hostilities on the estimated 52,000 women who are currently pregnant.
Service Mapping of the Adolescents and Youth Programs in Afghanistan
UNFPA AfghanistanThe 4Ws (Who, What, Where, Whom) matrix for the adolescents and youth services is a crucial tool used by the Adolescents and Youth Working Group to provide an overview of essential services available for this group of populations in Afghanistan, as well as the actors implementing programs in specific locations across the country. The data collection took place in September 2023 and the findings of the report will be helpful for the humanitarian actors to minimize the gaps and avoid the duplication of efforts
In this one-hour webinar, the IAWG MNH SWG, the Van Leer Foundation, and Spring Impact built momentum for scaling KMC in Humanitarian Settings through demonstrating findings from recent research, posing questions around next steps and fostering collaboration in a group of interested donors, agencies and practitioners. A recording of the webinar can be found below.
Addressing the Rise of Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis: Evidence from Three Studies in North Santander and Policy Recommendations to Break the Cycle of Transmission
Merike Blofield, Rafael Olarte, Doris Parada, and Magaly PedrazaThe spread of infectious diseases remains a global threat. When widely available treatments exist, the challenge becomes one of rapid policy intervention to treat and prevent further spread. This study addresses a highly treatable, sexually transmitted infection - syphilis - amid population displacements in the Venezuela-Colombia border region, most dramatically manifested in the rise of congenital syphilis among newborns. The findings show that, in addition to informational prevention campaigns and access to free treatment, small monetary incentives for individuals who struggle to meet basic necessities are an effective and low-cost strategy when compared to the costs of untreated syphilis, including perinatal morbidity and mortality secondary to gestational syphilis.
Youth Health Line Standard Operating Procedure
UNFPA AfghanistanUNFPA supports the Youth Health Line (YHL), launched in 2012, as a nationwide, youth friendly health service to provide information and counseling for adolescents and youth on issues related to their health and reproductive health. This Standard Operating Procedure for YHL provides a critical resource for the administration and day-to-day management and is designed to provide direction to all staff responsible for carrying out the administrative and managerial functions of the YHL. It is intended to guide UNFPA Implementing Partners in running the YHL with a consistent approach to ensure improved access and quality of services provided to adolescents and youth in Afghanistan.