Center Organizes Events to Support SRHR in Nepal

As part of its work in Nepal, the Center for Reproductive Rights organized several recent events promoting and supporting reproductive rights in the region. The events included:

SRHR Orientation Session for Law School Students in Nepal

In collaboration with the Kathmandu University School of Law, the Center organized an orientation for law students on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Held February 24, the orientation was designed to enable the students to approach SRHR from a human rights lens and to hold the state accountable for ensuring the realization of SRHR in Nepal, particularly abortion rights and related services.   

Speakers at the event included:

• Prabina Bajracharya, the Center’s Associate Director of Program Operations and Administration for Asia, who spoke about SRHR from a human rights perspective by referencing international human rights laws. 
• Prabhakar Shrestha, the Center’s Senior Legal Advisor for Asia, who highlighted the legal and policy landscape on SRHR in Nepal, pointed out the gaps and limitations in the law and recommended ways for students to engage with the issue.  

“More than 40 law students were able to engage with the subject of SRHR as a human rights issue and were equipped to become more knowledgeable and aware about critical SRHR issues,” Bajracharya said. “By working and engaging with the youth, we will be able to pave the way for creating future human rights defenders who will advocate and work towards progressive SRHR realization.”

The Feb. 24 orientation was designed to enable its 40+ attendees to approach SRHR through a human rights lens. —©Center for Reproductive Rights

Boot Camp on Abortion Decriminalization and Youth-Friendly SRHR Services in Nepal

In collaboration with Youth-led Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Advocacy Nepal (YoSHAN), the Center supported the YoSHAN Advocacy Boot Camp on the decriminalization of abortion and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services held February 17–19 in Dhulikhel, Nepal. 

The event’s 20 participants ranged from 18–30 years of age and were selected for their diverse array of professional and educational backgrounds including media, medicine, public health, social science and more. Applicants were recruited through the YoSHAN network. 

In addition to the decriminalization of abortion and youth-friendly SRHR services, other topics discussed in the workshop included gender, sexuality, human rights, various SRHR, topics, disability friendly SRHR, abortion and self-managed abortion. The workshop was youth-friendly, with young people from the YoSHAN network as main facilitators alongside a few external resource facilitators. 

Experts facilitating sessions included:

• Prabina Bajracharya, the Center’s Associate Director of Program Operations and Administration for Asia, who introduced the concept of SRHR through a human rights-based approach.   
• Sabin Shrestha, Executive Director of the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), who mapped the legal and policy framework around the decriminalization of abortion in Nepal.   
• Nir Shrestha, Disability Rights Activist, who spoke about disability friendly SRHR and abortion services.   
• YoSHAN co-founders Durga Sapkota and Pushpa Joshi and Senior Legal Adviser for Asia Prabhakar Shrestha, who moderated the sessions.

“The workshop was very helpful for the participants to understand the concept of need for decriminalization of abortion and youth-friendly SRHR services,” Prabhakar Shrestha said. “The boot camp also provided a platform for the youth to engage in advocacy on related issues, as they had to design an action plan to improve SRHR access to the youth in Nepal. This boot camp was a great way to engage the youth in ground-up movement building and enable them to become the voices of their own rights.”

Topics discussed in the workshop Feb. 17–19 included gender, sexuality, human rights, various SRHR topics, disability friendly SRHR, abortion decriminalization, self-managed abortion and more. —©Center for Reproductive Rights

Discussion on Self-Managed and Telemedicine Abortion in Nepal

The Center collaborated with the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), the National Women’s Commission (NWC) and the Reproductive Health Rights Working Group (RHRWG) to hold an interactive discussion program on expanding self-managed and telemedicine abortion access in Nepal on May 4. The National Women’s Commission led the discussion, and the Center’s Senior Legal Adviser for Asia, Prabhakar Shrestha, spoke about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive rights in the region. 

During the program, Shrestha argued that the right to reproductive health is a fundamental human right that women can enjoy only when they have autonomy and easy access to abortion services. He pointed out that the preamble of The Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Act (2018) pledged to respect, protect and fulfil the right to safe motherhood and reproductive health ensured by the Nepal Constitution. Shrestha said the Ministry of Health and Population’s directive issued during the initial phase of the pandemic was highly beneficial, as it allowed women to access abortion through self-managed abortion and telemedicine services, and that it had rightly addressed women’s needs while continuing to fulfil the government’s international commitment. The directive was also helpful in reducing the maternal mortality rate in Nepal during the pandemic.

NWC chair Hon’ble Kamala Parajuli said there was a need to continue the directive facilitating self-managed abortion and telemedicine and committed to continue monitoring the Ministry of Health and Population to ensure the effective implementation of the services.

The event was covered by the press.

The National Women’s Commission led the May 4 discussion, and the Center’s Senior Legal Adviser for Asia, Prabhakar Shrestha, spoke about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive rights in Nepal. —©Center for Reproductive Rights

National Consultative Meeting on Infertility and Assisted Reproduction in Nepal

The Center supported and participated in a national consultative meeting on infertility and assisted reproduction, including surrogacy, in Bhaktapur, Nepal May 20. 

Topics discussed at the meeting included:

• Infertility and assisted reproduction—including surrogacy—through a human rights framework, presented by Prabina Bajracharya, the Center’s Associate Director of Program Operations and Administration for Asia.
• The national legal landscape and the need for laws and regulations around assisted reproductive technology, presented by Sabin Shrestha, Executive Director, Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD).
• Infertility and assisted reproduction—including surrogacy—through the lens of women’s rights, presented by Dr. Renu Adhikari, Chair, National Alliance of Women Human Rights Defenders (NAWHRD).

Participants included:

• Program chair: Senior Advocate Geeta Aryal, Chairperson, FWLD 
• Chief guest: Honorable Top Bahadur Magar, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) 
• Special guest: Hon’ble Kamala Parajuli, chair, National Women’s Commission (NWC) 
• Hon’ble Manoj Duwadi and Hon’ble Lily Thapa, Members of NHRC 
• Hon’ble Krishna Kumari Khatiwada, Hon’ble Bidhya Kumari Sinha, Hon’ble Jaya Ghimire and Hon’ble Sabitra Kumari Sharma, Members of NWC 
• Hon’ble Shanti Modi, Member of Tharu Commission 
• Hon’ble Mina Devi Sob, Member of National Dalit Commission 
• Garima Pant, FWLD 
• Guest participants also included the Secretary of NHRC and officials from NHRC and NWC.

At the meeting May 20, participants discussed infertility and assisted reproduction—including surrogacy—through the frameworks of women’s rights and human rights. —©Center for Reproductive Rights