May 28, International Day of Action for Women’s Health, has been celebrated around the world on May 28 since 1987.
The aim of the day is to make people aware about issues related to women’s health and wellness such as Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR).
Women that make half of the world’s population have long been considered to be second-class citizens and denied their rights. With the changing times, owing to women rights advocates, some progress has been made, however women still lack autonomy over their bodies and their health is often considered secondary to that of man.
“We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
-Malala Yousafzai
History of International Day of Action for Women’s Health, 2022:
In 1987 the government of South Africa officially recognized the International Day of Action for Women’s Health and the day has been celebrated every year on May 28 ever since. The International Day of Action for Women’s Health has been initiated together by Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network (LACWHN) and Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR). Every year women’s health activists have advocated for women’s sexual and reproductive rights- a vital and indispensable part of human rights.
Significance of International Day of Action for Women’s Health, 2022:
In the present scenario when the rights of women, especially sexual and reproductive rights continue to be violated all around the world, it is important to spread awareness particularly among policymakers in order to secure women’s autonomy over their bodies and to secure sexual and reproductive justice for all.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) includes:
- Right to be sexually educated
- Right to choose one’s sexual partner
- Right to know about and use various contraception methods
- Right of maternity care
- Right to abortion and post abortion care
- Right to education about prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
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Theme of the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, 2022:
Covid 19 left nobody in the world untouched. With a harsher impact on the politically, economically and socially disadvantaged, it left them hanging on the margins of the society. Women particularly in the third world countries, struggled further to get access to healthcare and sexual and reproductive rights in relation to their male counterparts. In lieu of this, the LACWHN and WGNRR together declared the theme of the 2021 International Day of Action for Women’s Health 2021 to be a call of action for “Women’s Health Matters: Ending the Inequality Pandemic and Ensuring SRHR remains essential!”
In 2022, the post pandemic era while we are still overcoming the wrath of the disease on all spheres of our lives, LACWHN and WGNRR continues with their theme and gave the call of action to spread awareness and overcome the gendered impact of the pandemic.
Since the onset of the pandemic the already advancing world of social media became all the more relevant as means of spreading awareness, thus in order for campaigns to be successful, LACWHN and WGNRRN came up with hashtags. The hashtags of the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, 2022 are #ResistandPersist, #WomensHealthMatters, #SRHRisEssential.
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FAQs:
Q.1 When is the International Day of Action for Women’s Health Day celebrated?
Answer- The International Day of Action for Women’s Health Day is celebrated on 28th May.
Q.2 When was the International Day of Action for Women’s Health first celebrated?
Ans. The International Day of Action for Women’s Health was first celebrated on 28th May 1987.
Q.3 What is the call for action for the International Day of Action for Women’s Health Day, 2022?
Answer- The call for action for International Day of Action for Women’s Health, 2022 is #ResistandPersist #WomenHealthMatters #SRHRisEssential.
Q.4 What should we do to promote gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights?
Answer- To promote gender equality and sexual and reproductive health, we should:
- Dismantle gender roles.
- Break gender stereotypes by engaging in gender neutral activities.
- Conduct workshops to spread awareness about sexual health and wellness and sexually transmitted diseases
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”
-Nelson Mandela
Several NGOs in India that have taken up the cause of women’s health and rights are actively working towards their goal. Wishes and Blessings is one such NGO based in New Delhi. It acknowledges the disparity within the treatment of women and men’s health.
The organization believes that education is a tool for changing mindsets and uplifting the oppressed. It thereby educates the underprivileged youth of the country under its ‘Sponsor A Childhood’ and the ‘Street to School Programme.’ The organization is transparent, accountable and most importantly impartial and believes in providing equitable service to all irrespective of gender, caste, class, religion and age.
About the Author:
Ayesha is passionate about human rights, culture, literature and history. She firmly believes that poetry and art can be efficiently employed in bringing social change.