Sexual and reproductive health and rights ofrefugee and migrant women: gynaecologists’ and obstetricians’ responsibilities
by Margit Endler, Taghreed Al Haidari, SameenaChowdhury, Jan Christilaw, Faysal El Kak, Diana Galimberti, Miguel Gutierrez,Atziri Ramirez‐Negrin,Hemantha Senanayake, Rubina Sohail, Marleen Temmerman, Kristina GemzellDanielsson, for the FIGO Committee for Human Rights, Refugees and ViolenceAgainst Women.
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 149.1 (April2020):113–119. (Free access 1 year)
Abstract
Ensuring universal access to sexual andreproductive healthcare services is Target 3.7 of the United NationsSustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Refugee and migrant women and childrenare at particular risk of being forgotten in the global momentum to achievethis target. In this article, we discuss the violations of sexual andreproductive health and rights of particular relevance to the refugee andmigrant reality. We give context‐specific examples ofdenial of health services to vulnerable groups; lack of dignity as a barrier tocare; the vulnerability of adolescents; child marriage; weaponized rape; gender‐basedviolence; and sexual trafficking. We discuss rights frameworks and models thatare being used in response to these situations, as well as what remains to bedone. Specifically, we call for obstetricians and gynaecologists to act asindividual providers and through their FIGO member societies to protect women’shealth and rights in these exposed settings.