2-day State level consultation on sexual and reproductive rights starts

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 25: The Human Rights Law Network, Manipur kicked off "Two-day State Level Consultation on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights" at the conference hall of Institute of Co-operative Management, Lamphelpat Imphal today.
Human Rights Law Network, Manipur director Meihoubam Rakesh, Deputy Director Public Health & Mental Health, Department of Health Services Manipur Dr Seram Meena, Deputy Director (PH), Department of Health Services Manipur Dr Somorjit Ningombam, Kishorechandra Wangkhem and others talked on different topics related to sexual and reproductive health rights as resource persons.
The two-day consultation meet is being organised to discuss sexual and reproductive health rights with special attention non maternal mortality and morbidity. Maternal mortality and morbidity are not just human rights violations but a culmination of a multitude of rights denial which poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition- anaemia, child marriage etc. The 'phenomena' keeps occurring in the State despite financial and managerial inputs through National Health Mission. In Manipur, the accessibility, availability and quality of maternal health care, resources, in accordance with standards set under the Indian Public Health Standards, are not being fully provided. Disparities are evident in the urban and rural allocation of resources, the varying degrees of accessibility, quality and availability of emergency obstetric services for women from different socioeconomic, marginalised and vulnerable background, said HRLN director Meihoubam Rakesh.
Litigation in the area of maternal health and reproductive rights would be an effective avenue through which accountability and redressal for violations of Constitutional and international human rights law of victims and the wider community can be sought, he said.