Interact Worldwide Sexual and Reproductive Health
Everyone has a right to a safe and pleasurable sex life, to decide if and when to have children, and to enjoy the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) free from discrimination or coercion. These basic rights were agreed by the international community in 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, and in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Bejing. Unfortunately for many people these rights are more rhetoric than reality. Worldwide, pregnancy-related conditions and sexually transmitted infections account for one-third of the global burden of disease among women of reproductive age and one-fifth among the total population.
Interact Worldwide focuses their work on marginalized and vulnerable groups who have particular barriers to realizing their sexual and reproductive rights (such as rural women, adolescents, refugees, men who have sex with men, and people living with HIV). But where sexual and reproductive health needs are met, in addition to increased health for the individual they contribute economic growth, societal and gender equity and democratic governance.
Sexual and reproductive health services encompass three main areas: contraceptive services, maternal health services, and services related to diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV). Interact Worldwide supports partners to integrate and link these different services where appropriate, to enable more holistic and effective care of clients. For example we work with SRH service providers, supporting them to also offer or make referrals for HIV services such as voluntary counseling and testing. Interact also engages in advocacy on the multiple barriers to good SRH for all. For example we join with partners in speaking out against conservative opposition to SRH such the abstinence only agenda promoted by the current us administration; a lack of access to contraceptive supplies, and weak health systems.
