April 25, 2025, New Delhi, India: The International Planned Parenthood Federation – South Asia Region (IPPF-SAR) is hosting a panel discussion at the 2025 World Health Summit Regional Meeting in New Delhi on April 25, 2025. The session, titled “No Health Equity Without Universal Access to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Justice”, will convene regional experts, advocates, and activists to address the stark inequalities in access to sexual and reproductive health care in South Asia.
1 in 4 maternal deaths worldwide occur in South Asia. Unsafe abortions alone contribute to 13% of maternal mortality in the region, often resulting from restrictive colonial-era laws and systemic discrimination. The panel will explore the urgent need for policy reform, human rights-based approaches, and inclusive health care systems that serve diverse marginalized communities including women with disabilities, transgender people, youth, and those affected by humanitarian crises.
“We are hoping to highlight the fundamental link between health equity and access to sexual and reproductive health care, emphasizing investment in marginalized communities and transformation of public policy to uphold rights. We are calling on national leadership and civil society partners to come together in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) inclusive of SRHRJ – despite growing opposition threatening essential services.,” said Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director of IPPF South Asia Region who will also chair the panel.
The panel will explore a range of critical issues from abortion access disparities and human rights frameworks to challenges faced by transgender individuals and women with disabilities in accessing SRHR services. They will further deliberate on a critical question -
“What should feminists, advocates, community leaders and policy makers do to ensure universal access to SRHRJ?”
The session will be chaired by Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director of IPPF South Asia, and moderated by Dr. Harjyot Khosa, Regional External Relations Director at IPPF South Asia. The panel will feature Dr. Kalpana Apte, Director General of the Family Planning Association of India; Dr. Suchitra Dalvie, Coordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership; Prabina Bajracharya, Regional Director for Asia at the Centre for Reproductive Rights; Abhina Aher, CEO of the Tweet Foundation; and Smitha Sadasivan, Senior Advisor at the Disability Rights India Foundation. Media representatives are invited to attend and engage with these influential voices as they discuss critical regional priorities and pathways for the future.
This panel is part of a broader WHS Regional Meeting commitment to inclusive, just, and sustainable health systems.
About the IPPF:
IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries. Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote.
For further queries reach out to:
Madhurima Mallik ([email protected])
Communications, Voice & Media Advisor
IPPF South Asia Region
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South Asia