Sexual and
Reproductive Health and
Rights services
Inclusive
health access
We work tirelessly to ensure that all members of the community have equal and dignified access to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly the youth, LGBTI+,PWD, women, girls and other marginalized groups
The key to making the Right to Health a reality in Botswana lies in how effectively SRHR services are available to all. Research around this issue worldwide, has built a solid case: to curb and prevent ills such as the transmission of STIs, particularly HIV/AIDs, unwanted and underage pregnancy as well as unsafe abortion, governments must consciously choose to invest in these services for the benefit of its people. Therefore designing and implementing holistic sexual reproductive health services, ensuring real access and creating awareness around its importance, is vital.
With this understanding we expand our reach countrywide, with the support of our partners, to ensure that all receive the sexual and reproductive health services needed; particularly those who fall within the cracks of our public health system due to legal, social, religious, cultural and economic barriers.
“The negative attitudes of health service providers’ towards key population affects their access to SRHR services. Most health service providers are poorly equipped to serve young key populations, and lack the appropriate sensitivity, skills and knowledge. Key populations need more routine access to sexual reproductive health services that effectively addresses the developmental, social political, legal and other issues in their holistic life. If these issues are not addressed, the utilization of health services by key populations will remain low and predisposes key populations to risky sexual behaviours.” – A Brief Legal analysis on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Policy, Law and Practice in Botswana.
Getting
it done
We work hand in hand with communities to build skill and promote ownership of our interventions. All activities are geared towards ensuring that sexual reproductive health services are easy to reach and tailor made specifically for the people reaching them.
Our activities include:
- Conducting Research to understand the context of SRHR in Botswana;
- Training of Service Providers on the effective provision of SRHR services, in line with international Human Right principles;
- Educating Youth, Women, Girls, LGBTI and other Marginalized Groups on SRHR;
- Community led monitoring through AGYW/ KVP REActors and Community Monitors
- Advocacy through Community Engagement and Campaigns on SRHR
- Building Community Linkages among leaders such as Dikgosi (Traditional leaders), District Commissioners, Teachers, Religious leaders, Health and Social Workers as well as the Police to provide effective accountability within the provision of SRHR services;
- Providing access to Legal Services in the event of Human Rights violations.
- Engaging policy makers and legislators on policy and law reform i.e. decriminalization of abortion, comprehensive sexuality education in schools
- Enabling access to integrated HIV/TB/SRH services for key populations through Drop in Centre’s (one stop shop).
- Movement building- we work with and through coalitions of key population organizations to hold duty bearers accountable to ensure access to comprehensive SRHR services.
- People reached with SRHR Information, Education and Communication Material across 27 Health Districts.
Projects
| Project Name | Donor | Primary Target | Key Interventions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Advancing Bodily Autonomy and Integrity(BAI) |
ARASA |
LGBTIQ+, Sex Workers
|
1.Cross movement organizing and strengthening movement building.
2.Grassroots mobilization and coalition building for advocacy within civil society and KP groups to maximize participation and engagement with decision makers and strategic influencers on policy issues related to Bodily Autonomy and Integrity. 3.Advancing the SRHR agenda in Botswana with a specific prioritization on Women, Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW), Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Intersex persons (LGBTI) including MSM and Sex Workers . |
|
2. Advocacy for SRHR Services in to HIV Interventions Integration through CSOs Engagement
|
ACHAP |
AGYW, LGBTI
|
1. Awareness raising
2.Advocacy for policy and law reform 3.Advocacy for provision of comprehensive services (HIV/TB/SRHR) through Drop-in Centres 4. Provision of Legal Services 5. Movement building 6. Community-led monitoring and documentation of rights violations |
|
3. Advancing universal access to SRHR services for women with disability in Botswana
|
FELM
|
Women with Disabilities
|
1. Increase knowledge on SRHR needs, discrimination and gender based violence among women with disabilities in Botswana.
2..Increase knowledge on rights, particularly SRHR services by women in the reproductive ages. 3. To develop the writing capacity of 8 Women with disabilirovision of Legal Services. 4.Consolidate key public health and policy recommendations emanating from public engagements with duty bearers and rights holders to address access to SRHR services for women with disabilities in Botswana |
Our Results
We have made major strides in this area, having accomplished the following
- Reached 6796 people in Boteti, Ngamiland, Palapye, Francistown and Tutume districts with education around TB/HIV, for the purpose of dismantling stigma and discrimination;
- Educated people in districts on ascertaining and vindicating their rights in the face of human rights violations;
- Provided 4555 people in Boteti, Ngamiland, Palapye, Francistown and Tutume districts with TB/HIV services.
- Reached 340 policy makers and legislators on various health issues for policy and law reform.
- Provided integrated HIV/TB services to key and vulnerable populations through Drop in Centre’s in 5 priority districts.
RESOURCES
linking sexual and reproductive health and rights and hiv in southern africa
SRHR and HIV linkages indicator baseline survey report
integration of sexual & reproductive health rights and hiv services in botswana