The Pretense of Inclusion: Contextualizing Sexual and Reproductive Health Policies in Lived Realities of Indigenous Youth
A Year in Review
In 2018, PAI launched the Acceso Initiative, a multicountry project in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), to address gaps in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Although the region has made important strides, high levels of inequality undermine universal access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Given the recent decline in overseas development assistance for health in LAC and the critical disparities in reproductive health outcomes across the region, there is a pressing need to address access to and the sustainability of SRH programs for the most vulnerable groups.
Through high-impact advocacy for health sector reform, PAI’s local partners engage governments, regional networks and community leaders to improve access to quality services and strengthen contraceptive security for youth, indigenous women and girls as well as low-income populations. Acceso builds pathways to sustainability by leveraging a robust civil society presence and national government commitments for an integrated approach to SRHR in the region.
In March 2019, PAI convened Acceso partners in Washington D.C. to review progress to date, tailor strategic thinking around the impact of impending political shifts, finalize a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework and examine emerging opportunities to advance sexual and reproductive rights in the region. This meeting built on PAI’s first regional convening hosted in Bogotá in September 2018 to continue facilitating South-to-South learning, greater collaboration among countries and strengthen the capacities of partner organizations in SRHR advocacy.
