Unit 6: Women ’ s Health Ethics - Women ’ s Global Health & Human Rights

Gender Based Violence Although it is widespread, violence against women and girls goes widely unreported due to factors such as fear of retribution, shame, stigma, lack of economic resources, inadequate social services, ineffective legal systems, and concern for children (including fear for their children’s safety and losing custody and access if they choose to leave).

Gender Based Violence Few countries provide appropriate training for the police and judicial and medical staff who are the first responders for women and girls during and after violent events. As a result, victims of violence are left vulnerable to further abuse from the systems and institutions that are meant to protect them, and the perpetrators are often left unpunished and free to continue perpetrating violence.

Half the Sky: Gender Based Violence IMPUNITY: – What does it mean? – When people are able to commit crimes and/or violate the human rights of others without facing consequences… CULTURE OF IMPUNITY: – What does it mean? – A situation in which people in a society have come to believe that they can do whatever they want without having to face any penalties or punishments and victims of those actions are denied basic rights and/or protections.

Half the Sky: Gender Based Violence Watch the film and complete the film guide Q&A Following the film, we will… WRITE SOLIDARITY STATEMENTS FOR WOMEN!

SOLIDARITY! BREAK THE SILENCE! CHALLENGE IMPUNITY! Use the Power and Control Wheel to remind you of the elements of violence. Brainstorm – everything that you can think of related to Gender Based Violence…feelings, how to break the silence, ending the culture of impunity, etc. Write a MESSAGE OF SOLIDARITY on the whiteboard directed at women who are victims of gender-based violence. – Your message should: share what you have learned about the importance of breaking the silence through Fulamatu’s story, describe the effect that her story and her choice to speak out has had on you, and suggest how women and men everywhere can help end the global culture of impunity.

Maternal Mortality & The Global Health Divide Maternal mortality has been identified as a global crisis and the greatest health inequity of the 21 st century. 99% of deaths occur in developing countries, with more than half in sub-Saharan Africa and almost 1/3 in South Asia. Underlying the medial causes of maternal death is a complex web of social, political, and economic forces that undermines women’s access to essential maternal healthcare and reproductive health information.

Maternal Mortality & The Global Health Divide A high maternal death rate indicates not only a country’s inadequate healthcare system, but also a violation of women’s fundamental rights to life and health. Even within industrialized countries a disparity exists between maternal mortality rates for women in different communities. The health divide is especially apparent in the U.S., where African American women are almost 4 times more likely to die during or soon after childbirth than Caucasian women.

Maternal Mortality & The Global Health Divide As a result, the U.S. average maternal mortality rate is relatively high at 1 in 4,100…making it more dangerous to give birth in the U.S. than in 40 other countries.

Half the Sky: Maternal Mortality Watch the film and complete the film guide Q&A Following the film, we will discuss why women are dying…AND Investigate 3 case studies

The FACTS… Why Women DIE Hemorrhaging Infection Pre-eclampsia Eclampsia Indirect Causes Poverty & Access to Care Discrimination & Cultural Practices Poor Family Planning & Adolescent Maternity Obstructed Labor

Maternal Mortality Case Studies: Prudence, Antonia, & Mastbegeen In small groups of 3 Distribute the 3 case studies Read the case study and DISCUSS the following with your group: – What was the cause of death in each case? – Was the condition she suffered from treatable? – If so, what were the factors that contributed to her death? (Poverty, discrimination, access to care, planning or education, cultural practices) – Refer to the “Delay Model” on the fact sheet… Describe the delays that the mother and her family faced when attempting to access care – What outreach and resource strategies would you put into place to address the issues?