FWLD Nepal in coordination with Ipas Nepal and NDWA conducted a two-days “Interactive Discussion Program on Reproductive Health Rights and Access for people of Disability” on March 16- 17, in Kathmandu. The program was mainly focused in capacitating local CSOs across different districts in regards to health rights and legal framework of people with disabilities, as well as for making disability- friendly reproductive health services quality, accessible, and universally available.
The major topics covered in the session included:
- Component of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
- Legal Provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
- Climate and Disability Justice
- Disability Friendly Service
- Guideline of Disability-friendly reproductive health
The sessions were conducted through interactive group sessions and presentations. The participants had immersive experience in learning about sexual and reproductive health rights, and different legal provisions made by the government. Similarly, sessions on climate and disability justice provided information on how climate change and disability are interlinked and how climate change has varied effects on different vulnerable groups.
Ms. Meena Paudel, Chairperson of NDWA, facilitated a session on disability-friendly safe motherhood and reproductive health service operation guidelines. The main objective of the guideline is to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal access to important services such as family planning, safe abortion, maternal care, and newborn care, just like others. During the session, she also discussed how society often views persons with disabilities and how these attitudes can affect their access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services. She highlighted that negative insights, discrimination, and lack of awareness in society can create barriers for persons with disabilities, especially women. She emphasized the importance of changing these attitudes, making services more inclusive and accessible, ensuring dignity, respect, and equal rights for persons with disabilities in all aspects of reproductive health.
At the end of the session, the participants expressed to be confident in advocating for safe abortion practice and disability- friendly reproductive health services.