Center Conducts Training in Nepal to Help Protect SRHR During Disasters

Natural disasters can have dire consequences on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Increased risks of sexual violence, human trafficking, and forced marriage often contribute to unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortion, increased maternal mortality, and human rights violations.

To help protect women and girls’ SRHR and improve health outcomes during disasters, the Center for Reproductive Rights’ Asia program conducted a four-day “training of trainers” session in June in Nagarcot, Nepal.

Titled “Accountable Health System for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights During Disasters,” the event’s objective was to build the capacity of Center partners and other participants to implement programs at the grassroots level to ensure that health systems remain accountable and responsive during disasters. Such grassroots programs would also empower others to monitor SRHR within their own communities.

Representatives from the Nepal organizations Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), National Environment and Equity Development Society (NEEDS), and Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD) participated in the training.

Participants Learned from Experts and Honed Their Training  Skills

With sessions taught by Center leaders and other experts in SRHR, disaster management, human rights, and health system accountability, participants honed their training skills through interactive lectures, group discussions, and hands-on activities.  

Topics included:

• International human rights and the right to health.
• Disaster management and SRHR risks.
• Accountability systems and mechanisms.
• SRHR in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
• Issues and challenges in project implementation.
• Community-led data collection and analysis.

“This training was crucial to bring together our partners working on SRHR in disaster settings to understand rights-based accountability and promote it through the project implementation,” said Prabina Bajracharya, the Center’s Regional Director of Asia. “Through these ‘training of trainers’ sessions, the Center was able to provide an important platform for all of us to align with and root our work in line with international human rights standards.”

Sessions were facilitated by human rights expert Rukamanee Maharjan and lawyer and consumer activist Bishnu Timilsina—who also designed the training—and the Center’s Prabina Bajracharya and Technical Coordinator Shankar Dhami, as well as leaders from participating partner organizations.

“This training built our capacity to advocate for robust SRHR-friendly disaster and health policies and empowered us to engage with local communities, enhancing SRHR and disaster resilience,” said NEEDS Nepal project coordinator Ruchi Ranamagar. “It ensures we can better serve and protect our communities during crises and helps us effectively conduct various trainings and workshops as planned by the project.”