The 2nd Global Conference on Sexual Health, Reproductive Rights, and Gender Equity in Refugee and Humanitarian Crises

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Date: May 9 – 10, 2025

Venue: 163 Queen St, Toronto, ON M7A 2H6

Theme

 “Empowering Voices, Ensuring Rights: Advancing Sexual Health and Gender Equity in Crisis Settings”

Introduction

In refugee and humanitarian crises, accessing essential Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services is a significant challenge, particularly for women, girls, and vulnerable populations. These groups often face limited access to quality services such as family planning, maternal health care, and support for gender-based violence, putting their health and well-being at risk. The 2nd Global Conference on Sexual Health, Reproductive Rights, and Gender Equity in Refugee and Humanitarian Crises aims to address these critical issues.

The Challenge

Worldwide, about 4.3 million sexually active individuals experience poor or limited access to SRH services throughout their lives, as estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Displaced women and girls are disproportionately affected, often facing threats to their physical, sexual, and psychological well-being. These challenges are intensified in refugee and humanitarian settings, where conditions like gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, and inadequate obstetric care are leading causes of female morbidity and mortality.

• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Over 200 million women and girls globally have undergone FGM, facing severe lifelong physical and psychological consequences.
• Child Marriage and Unsafe Abortions: Approximately 33,000 child marriages occur daily, and there are 25 million unsafe abortions annually.
• Adolescent Risks: In humanitarian settings, adolescent girls face increased risks of early marriage and pregnancy, which can lead to health complications and limited future opportunities. Pregnancy and childbirth-related complications are a major cause of death among girls aged 15-19 in these settings.

The Need for Action

Achieving sustainable sexual and reproductive health requires upholding the sexual rights of all individuals, particularly those in refugee and humanitarian settings. This includes the rights of women, girls, and other vulnerable populations to make informed decisions about their sexuality without facing coercion, discrimination, or violence. Canada, and Ontario specifically, have seen a rise in refugees and asylum seekers, including African refugees and LGBTQI individuals, who face numerous barriers in accessing SRH services. These barriers, which include legal, cultural, and systemic issues, must be addressed to ensure the health and well-being of these communities.

Theme

Organized under the theme: “Empowering Voices, Ensuring Rights: Advancing Sexual Health and Gender Equity in Crisis Settings” the conference will emphasize the importance of empowering marginalized voices, particularly those of women, girls, and vulnerable populations while ensuring their sexual and reproductive health rights are upheld. The conference theme reflects the need for action in advancing gender equity and provides a strong foundation for discussions and strategies to improve health outcomes in refugee and humanitarian settings.

Conference Goals

This conference seeks to bring together refugees and newcomers, advocates, policymakers, community organizations, government representatives, humanitarian organizations, and stakeholders to:

• Enhance Access to Quality SRH Services: Develop and share strategies to improve access to critical SRH services such as family planning, maternal health, HIV prevention, and gender-based violence support, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their circumstances, receive the care they need.
• Reduce Gender-Based Violence: Implement and advocate for measures to protect refugees and displaced women and girls from violence, exploitation, and abuse, creating safer environments for these vulnerable populations.
• Empower Women and Girls: Promote gender equity by providing education, resources, and support to empower women and girls, enabling them to have control over their sexual and reproductive health and to participate fully in their communities.
• Promote Gender Equality: Advocate for the rights of all individuals, including LGBTQ+ persons, to have autonomy over their sexual and reproductive health, free from coercion, discrimination, and violence.
• Create Inclusive Environments: Foster inclusive and safe spaces where refugees and other community members can access services, share their experiences, and advocate for their rights, ensuring that their voices are heard and respected.
• Knowledge Exchange and Best Practices: Facilitate the sharing of innovative strategies, research findings, and best practices among experts and practitioners to enhance the effectiveness of SRH and gender equity initiatives.
• Policy Advocacy: Develop actionable policy recommendations that strengthen SRH services and promote gender equity, encouraging collaboration among policymakers, NGOs, and community leaders.
• Strategic Partnerships: Build and enhance partnerships among governments, humanitarian organizations, the private sector, and donors to secure funding and support for SRH and gender equity initiatives.

Join Us

By addressing these urgent needs, we can work towards a future where sexual health, reproductive rights, and gender equity are guaranteed for all, regardless of their circumstances. Join us at this crucial event to contribute to meaningful change and support the health and dignity of refugees and displaced persons worldwide.

For more information and to register for the conference, please visit this Link.

Together, we can create a world where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.