By YouAct
YouAct, European Youth Network on sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights joins the campaign for the International Day of Action for Women’s Health – May 28 Campaign with a series of micro blogging posts reflecting on institutional violence against women’s rights and health in European countries.
Institutional violence is not only about conflict, extreme poverty or religious extremism, but also about corruption, indifference, bureaucracy, and inequality. These gaps affect member states and often hide behind economic welfare or technological progress. We know that Europe is not free from human rights abuses and we would like to highlight the fact that women in many European countries are still ignored, neglected or unheard. Each YouAct member contributes to the campaign through a one-phrase personal reflection highlighting the situation in his/her country of origin. We hope that this is just the beginning of a longer and deeper conversation about gender equality and sexual and reproductive health rights in Europe and beyond.
“I witness institutional violence against women’s health and rights when I hear about the 12 women a day who are forced to travel abroad to obtain a safe and legal abortion as they are being denied access to services in Ireland”Ruth, Ireland
“I witness institutional violence against women’s health and rights when I hear about 17,700 sexual offences and over 6,000 rapes reported to the police in 20131 in Sweden” Anna, Sweden
“I witness institutional violence against women’s health and rights when I hear about teen mothers quitting school as early as the 8th grade in Romania”Luciana, Romania
“I witness institutional violence against women’s health and rights when I hear that every day almost 800 women on a global level die due to pregnancy or childbirth complications” Cecilie, Denmark
Original source: http://youact.org/news-article.php?show=m&id=72