Magazine on
Sexual and Reproductive
Health & Rights

NEWSLETTER
March 2020

The first edition of the Share-Net International SRHR Co-Creation Conference was organised in October 2019. This conference aimed at translating knowledge into products that will help Share-Net International members to influence policy and practice around two themes selected. The themes of the 2019 conference were 1) Breaking the silence around Infertility and 2) Access to quality SRHR services for people affected by conflict, fragility and crisis. Participants of the conference, including researchers, practitioners and policy makers engaged in dialogues and worked together to create these knowledge products.

In preparation of the Co-Creation Conference, two narrative reviews and two evidence briefs were written to present state of the art knowledge and evidence around the two themes. These narrative reviews can be accessed on the Share-Net International website.

The narrative review on Infertility identified four main issues as priorities: 1) Breaking the silence on infertility in policy and practice, 2) prevention of infertility, 3) access to quality (in)fertility care, and 4) de-stigmatisation of infertility and childlessness.

The narrative review on Access to quality SRHR services for people affected by conflict, fragility and crisis highlights the need of empowering local organisations and users to improve access to SRHR services and information in challenging circumstances, in their own country or in countries they seek refuge.

We would like to thank Bianca Tolboom, Trudie Gerrits, Hilde Kroes, Maria Siermann and Ronja Jansz for their efforts of preparing the narrative reviews and evidence briefs!

Share-Net Jordan participated in an international conference on "Telehealth", held in Dubai on January 26, 2020, organized by the International Society for Telehealth and Electronic Health. The aim of the conference, which was attended by representatives from a group of countries worldwide and a number of international experts, was to establish a platform for the exchange of Telehealth field experiences, best practices among stakeholders, how to use this type of care, what are the best solutions and programs, besides discussing the challenges and benefits of applying it in the area.

Dr. Abla Amawi, Share-Net Jordan, presented her speech "Health Care in Jordan: Challenges and opportunities". She stressed that the use of technology in various fields, especially in the field of health care, greatly contributes to making users have access to and update the required information in quality and efficiency, which promote the delivery of health and other services to citizens. Along with the commitment to implement the third Goal of sustainable development, which provides for a guaranteed healthy life and the promotion of well-being for all at all ages. Dr. Amawi stated that the most important benefits of Telehealth were to expand patient access to health care services, improve medical workflow, increase the efficiency of practice, reduce public expenditure in the field of health care and improve the quality of services. She referred to the challenges facing the application of Telehealth in Jordan, the most prominent of which is the low financing, technological infrastructure, the need to enhance the efficiency of medical cadres in the field of Telehealth application, the lack of legislation and laws supporting Telehealth in Jordan. Dr Abla Amawi represented Share-Net Jordan, and is the Secretary-General of the Higher Population Council and the President of the Arab Council for Population and Development.

Share-Net Burundi organized a Knowledge Fair on sexual and reproductive health and rights, focused on young people, in December 2019. In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS, the team organized a SRHR knowledge fair under the theme: "How can sexual and reproductive health programs better meet and meet the needs of adolescents and young people and how can research help?"

The objectives of this fair were to enable policy makers, practitioners, donors, researchers and the media to share their knowledge, experiences and good practices in the area of sexual and reproductive health, in order to identify the evidence based approaches and strategies for improving adolescents and youth sexual and reproductive health, so that they can participate effectively in the development of their country.

The official opening of the fair activities was enhanced by Dr Jocelyne Nsanzerugeze, the Assistant to the Minister of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS. In her speech she stressed that the health of adolescents and young people is currently a matter of concerns of the MSPLS in particular, but the interventions to meet the challenges of the health of adolescents and young people should be multisectoral. She also recalled the importance of sharing the results of research carried out in the field of sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young people, and stressed that researchers plays an essential role in guiding policy makers and donors in the development of relevant SRHR programs.

The main activities of the fair were marked by scientific sessions during which researchers and experts, from WHO, SDSR Project of GIZ, Consortium of Researchers of Harvard University, University of Burundi, University of Amsterdam, Care and Pathfinder, presented the results of their studies, as well as lessons learned and good practices on sexual health and reproductive health of adolescents and young people.

A panel on the theme: "How can sexual and reproductive health programs better meet the needs of adolescents and young people and how can research help?" was organized with researchers and professors from the University of Burundi, as well as a representative of the Ministry of health and one of the Ministry of Education.

The main points addressed in the panel are: poor access to correct and complete information on SRH, factors which negatively influences the attitudes and practices of young people regarding to their health, socio-cultural barriers that hinder access to information on SRH, the consequences linked to non-access to SRH information and services, as well as integration of SRH concepts at the level of basic and post-basic training curricula, and parent-child dialogue.

Prof. Judith pointed out that despite the introduction of SRH programs in basic and post-basic education, studies have shown that the level of knowledge has not improved much, perhaps due to the limited skills of teachers. She added that in order to contribute to the improvement of knowledge on SSRAJ, higher education has already started the introduction of the SRH thematic in the faculties and institutes which prepare future teachers so that they can have sufficient knowledge as well as appropriate strategies and methods for dispensing SRHR themes.

Prof. Sururu Adolphe reminded that often parents communicate badly with their children: "they often give orders”. He pointed out that the only rare occasion when parents really communicate with their children is when they are sick: "How are you feeling today ...?” Parents should listen more and more to their children, take into consideration their points of view and their needs, show them compassion when necessary, and avoid responding with absurd warnings. In short, parents should change their attitudes and learn to communicate positively with their children. He finally underlined that better communication is not only giving your message but rather it is Speaking-Listening-Responding-Convincing and not constraining.

The last activity of the fair was a guided tour of the stands where stakeholders in the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents and young showcased their interventions, achievements, and innovations in various formats (posters, leaflets, audio-visual materials and tools, products,…). It was an opportunity for networking and sharing good practices and innovations between stakeholders in the area of SRHR. SNBDI took the opportunity to recruit new members and guided participants who wish to register on our website and social media.

Music, accompanied with storytelling, can be used as an effective tool to stir the chords of the human psyche and make them rethink critical issues. In a recent music video, Momtaz Begum, a Bangladeshi folk singer, advocated for early married girls. Momtaz Begum is often referred as ‘The Music Queen’ of Bangladesh and has over 700 songs on her name.

This music video, titled ‘Phuler Naam e Naam’ (A flower, only by name) is an initiative by Image PLUS (Initiatives for Married Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment). It contains a strong message which narrates the emotional and psychological damage that early marriage does to an adolescent girl. The video shows a little girl’s simple dream of going to school, getting shattered. Her table which was initially occupied with books and pens is replaced with wedding clothes and ornaments.

This video serves as a wakeup call for parents who are eager to push their adolescent daughters into marriage, but are ignorant of the consequences. It also builds awareness among the general people. While we campaign for the prevention of early marriage, we tend to forget about those girls who are already suffering as a result of getting married early. This song tells the story of thousands of girls in Bangladesh who were married as a child.

Music and Lyrics by Mahmuda Rahman.
The music video was produced by RedOrange Media and Communications.
Web Link

In Bangladesh, the terms ‘hijra’ and transgender are used interchangeably. It is assumed that the term ‘hijra’ in English, translates into transgender. However, Joya Sikder, along with many other transgender men and women, and the allies working in this field argue that ‘hijra’ and transgender mean two different things.

In this interview with Share-Net Bangladesh, Joya Sikder talks about her life, her struggles and the representation of transgenders in the national agenda.

What is the difference between transgender and hijra?

When you think of the term hijra, you assume that this is a person who, because of its biology is neither male nor female, or both male and female. It is often assumed that they fall in the category of ‘intersex’ people. In reality, ‘hijra’ is actually an umbrella term that is used to describe a group of people that may include intersex people, castrated men and also transgender women. This group of people lives as a community or ‘family’, under a community leader or ‘guru’. So hijra, is in fact a community, and not a sex or a gender.

Transgender woman, on the other hand is a term used to define the people who were assigned as a male at birth, but at a later stage of life they realised that they identified as a female. The correct translation of ‘transgender’ in Bangla should rather be ‘Rupantorito Nari’ (transgender woman), or ‘Rupantorito Purush’ (transgender man).

Web Link

Hamida Begum was the first sex worker from Daulatdia, Bangladesh, to receive a formal Islamic funeral. Many women gathered at the graveside, weeping for the 65-year-old’s passing, and also because of the symbolic breakthrough her burial represented. “I never dreamed that she would get such an honourable farewell,” said Hamida’s daughter Laxmi, who followed her mother into the trade. “My mother was treated like a human being,” she added.

Islamic spiritual leaders have for decades rejected funeral prayers for sex workers because they view prostitution as immoral. For decades, when one of the women died their bodies would be thrown in the river, or buried in the mud. In the early 2000s, local authorities gave some waste ground for unmarked graves, and families would pay drug addicts to carry out burials – usually at night without formal prayers. “If we wanted to bury the dead in the morning, villagers would chase us with bamboo sticks,” recalled Jhumur Begum, who heads a sex workers group.

When Hamida died, her family planned to put her in an unmarked grave, but a coalition of sex workers persuaded the local police to talk religious leaders into giving her a proper burial. “The Imam was initially reluctant to lead the prayers. But we asked him whether Islam forbids anyone from taking part in the Janaza (funeral prayers) of a sex worker. He had no answer,” said Ashiqur Rahman, officer in charge (OC) of Goalondo police station, who oversaw negotiations.

There are hopes that Hamida’s funeral will change things for all women in the brothels. More than 200 mourners attended the religious ceremony, while a further 400 went to the post-funeral feast and prayers, OC Rahman recalled.

This news was first published on Dhaka Tribune
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The 21st century must be the century of women’s equality, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday, in a call to transform the world by ensuring equal participation for all.

Speaking to faculty and students at The New School, a university in New York City, the UN chief declared himself a proud feminist and called for men everywhere to support women’s rights.

“Just as slavery and colonialism were a stain on previous centuries, women’s inequality should shame us all in the 21st. Because it is not only unacceptable; it is stupid”, he said.

For the UN chief, gender inequality and discrimination against women and girls remains an overwhelming injustice across the globe.

“From the ridiculing of women as hysterical or hormonal, to the routine judgement of women based on their looks; from the myths and taboos that surround women’s natural bodily functions, to mansplaining and victim-blaming – misogyny is everywhere”, he said.

At the heart of the issue is power, as male-dominated power structures underpin everything from national economies, to political systems, to the corporate world and beyond. But he pointed out that patriarchy also has an impact on men and boys, trapping them in rigid gender stereotypes, declaring that a systemic change is long overdue.

“It is time to stop trying to change women, and start changing the systems that prevent them from achieving their potential. Our power structures have evolved gradually over thousands of years. One further evolution is long overdue. The 21st century must be the century of women’s equality”, he said.

Man-made problems, ‘human-led solutions’

Dismantling gender inequality will transform the world, the UN chief stated, and is critical to solving intractable global challenges such as conflict and violence, and the climate crisis.

It also will help close the digital divide, lead to fairer globalization, and increase political representation.

“The opportunity of man-made problems – and I choose these words deliberately – is that they have human-led solutions”, he said.

As the UN turns 75 this year, the global body is taking greater action to support women’s rights, he continued.

Last month marked the start of a Decade of Action to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at building peaceful, prosperous and inclusive societies while also safeguarding the planet. The Decade of Action is aimed at transforming institutions and structures, broadening inclusion and driving sustainability.
“Repealing laws that discriminate against women and girls; increasing protection against violence; closing the gap in girls’ education and digital technology; guaranteeing full access to sexual and reproductive health services and rights, and ending the gender pay gap are just some of the areas we are targeting”, he said.

On a personal level, the Secretary-General pledged to deepen his commitment to highlighting and supporting gender equality over the remainder of his mandate.

He will take steps at the global level, such as advocating for change among governments that have discriminatory laws on their books, and within the UN, by strengthening work on the links between violence against women and international peace and security.

‘Transform and redistribute power’
“Gender equality is a question of power; power that has been jealously guarded by men for millennia. It is about an abuse of power that is damaging our communities, our economies, our environment, our relationships and our health”, said Mr. Guterres.

“We must urgently transform and redistribute power, if we are to safeguard our future and our planet. That is why all men should support women’s rights and gender equality. And that is why I am a proud feminist”.

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Bandhu Social Welfare Society is going to arrange a 5 day residential course titled ‘Flagship Course on Sexuality and Gender’ from 16th to 20th April 2020. The course aims to teach the participants in detail about issues that affect or are affected by sexuality and gender, such as human body, femininity, masculinity, disability, media, intersectionality and more. This course will enable participants to look at themselves through a different lens. It would help them find an answer to questions that they have kept asking themselves, but couldn’t ask anyone else. It will teach the individuals about the beauty of human diversity, and help them embrace the differences among one another.

The course will be conducted by trainers from Bangladesh and India. Participants will receive certificates after successful completion of the course. Only 25 seats are available. To apply, contact Farida Begum by sending an email to farida@bandhu-bd.org, or giving a call at +880 1685444164. Apply by 25th March 2020.

This training course will be organised with support from Mama Cash and Right Here Right Now (RHRN).

About Bandhu: Bandhu Social Welfare Society is a community led organisation for gender diverse population who initiates training, workshops, advocacy meetings and also does networking and communication with stakeholders to draw the attention of the broader society towards health and human rights issues of the gender diverse population.

Web Link

Our second round of small grants has just been launched! This call is open to all Share-Net International members! You can find more information about the small grants call on the Share-Net International website.

The focus of the small grants of 2020 is steered towards translating existing knowledge into products and promote its use to influence and improve SRHR practice and policy. In line with the planned activities of Share-Net International for 2020, part of the available grants will be allocated to innovative projects or topics, such as investigating the linkages between SRHR and gender equality, youth and/or links with other SDGs.

The objectives of the grant can be three-fold:
1. Investigate and test new and innovative approaches in SRHR (i.e. knowledge gaps in the linkages between SRHR and gender equality, youth and/or links with other SDGs).
2. Translation of research into products and materials that will be used to facilitate tangible change in policy or practice. This process can build on research done by our members in the field of SRHR.
3. Documenting actual changes in policy and practice, related to work done through earlier Share-Net International grants of Share-Net members, and how these have been implemented.

It is crucial to show how the grants will contribute to changes in policy or practice, and to include an analysis of when and how this change will be effectuated, including the expected benefit for specific targets groups. This should be clearly described in your application. The proposal should therefore include a communication plan for achieving these results.

You can find the call on the Share-Net International website.

The region’s foremost experts, practitioners, and activists in SRHR will be gathering in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR10). The previously published date ((26-29 May 2020) of the conference has changed. The conference has been postponed due to COVID-19 public health emergency. The new dates of the conference will be published on 1st June 2020. Details of the dates can be found here.

Hosted by the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia (RHAC), an indigenous Cambodian NGO with over two decades of experience in service provision, health education, community programs, and advocacy. APCRSHR is the largest regional biennial gathering of experts and practitioners working in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Asia Pacific, including representatives of civil society, youth networks, academia, government, media, private firms, and development partners.

The conference will explore the theme SRHR in Asia Pacific: 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Vision and 2020 Realities through six main tracks: The conference is organized as a joint collaboration between a National Steering Committee and an International Steering Committee featuring leading national and international organizations, educational institutions, advocacy and grassroots organizations, and experts in the field of SRHR, and a Youth Steering Committee of emerging leaders and advocates.4

The conference will be held in Siem Reap, a premiere global tourism destination. Every year, more than two million people travel to the charming northern city to visit Angkor Wat, a treasured UNESCO World Heritage Site and Guinness World Record holder as the largest religious structure ever built. Siem Reap also boasts a flourishing culinary scene, bustling nightlife, a variety of artistic and cultural activities, a convenient, well-connected international airport, and a range of accommodation options, including budget-friendly hostels and guest houses, mid-range boutique hotels, and several luxury resorts.

On behalf of the organizing committees of APCRSHR10, I enthusiastically encourage you to respond to the Call for Abstracts and to share the opportunity with your professional networks.

Please do not hesitate to contact the APCRSHR10 Secretariat (secretariat@apcrshr10cambodia.org) with any questions or concerns. In addition, to learn more, register, and/or submit an abstract, please visit apcrshr10cambodia.org.

In recent years, Africa’s universities, research institutions and other knowledge agencies have undergone tremendous change. Growing demand for scientific forms of knowledge and for higher education has pushed many of them to expand rapidly and to show a combination of daring initiatives and institutional, scientific, and educational creativity. New knowledge organizations have also been established, for example, with ties to religious groups or to the private sector. ‘Decolonizing the academy’ has become a strong call within and outside the continent. Eurocentrism is increasingly questioned, while calls for ‘looking East’ and ‘looking inside Africa’ are gaining momentum.

This conference, the final activity of the Africa 2020 year of the Leiden African Studies Assembly, will be organized with many partners from Africa and Europe and address the following key issues:
• There are great changes in the African knowledge landscape: is Africa preparing itself for leapfrogging to innovations?
• What will the nascent multi-polar world of the 21st century mean for Africa’s role in knowledge and innovation?
• After 60 years of Independence, how do we finally decolonize the minds and change attitudes towards real co-creation?

The theme of the dynamics of knowledge development in Africa opens up debate for many different topics. In total there are 50 panels and there will be room for 70 panel sessions (so some panels will be double panels), some of which will be interrelated, to the extent that we can talk about a string of panels around the same major topic. All the panels included in the Call for Papers have been initiated and (co)-organized by our partner organizations.

Each panel will have one chair from the initiating institute, and two or more co-chairs, preferably at least one from a European institute and at least one from an African institute. Each panel session will have at least four students for technical and secretarial functions. The conference language will be English, but non-English speakers can present their paper or poster in their preferred language, and translation will be provided where possible.

All proposals must be made via the online form, not by email. There is a ‘Propose paper’ button in the title section of each open panel. Navigate to the panel you are interested in and click on this button to propose directly to that panel. (If having done that, you then decide you’d prefer to propose to another panel, first click ‘Cancel’ on the proposal form, before returning to the panel explorer – otherwise you’ll remain locked into that panel.)

Before proposing a paper, please read the conference theme, and then browse the list of panels and their streams.

Papers proposals must consist of:
• a paper title
• the name/s and email address/es of author/s
• an abstract of 200-400 words (in English, or French, or any other preferred language among those spoken in Africa)
• if your paper is not in fact a paper but a poster, vlog, blog, podcast, etc please indicate this in square brackets at the end of the title? e.g. Diasporic imagination [vlog]

Selection of papers and posters will be done by the panel convenors. Selection outcomes will be communicated by 15 June. We intend to have a fair representation of members from partner institutions, of all panels/themes, of a great variety of disciplines, countries, and language backgrounds, and with a fair representation of gender and age, but to a maximum of 300 delegates.

If you have questions about the conference please email Marieke van Winden, African Studies Centre Leiden on winden(at)ascleiden.nl.

The Call for Papers is now open and closes at 23:59 CET on 31 March 2020.

To find out more, please visit the conference website here

The Dutch research Council (NWO-WOTRO) in cooperation with Share-Net Jordan (SNJ) and Higher Population Council (HPC) finished all arrangements to organize the final Joint Sexual and reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Meeting in Amman during the period March 10-12, 2020.

The aim of the meeting is to launch the final results of the projects and to stimulate research uptake by sharing the knowledge generated by the projects. The research &policy session aims to relay project findings to key policy makers in SRHR in Jordan and actively engage key policy makers in the formulation of the final policy briefs. On the first day there will be an internal learning workshop. The second day is dedicated to sessions with our service providers and youth. The aim of this day is to relay project findings to on-the-ground stakeholders and relevant service providers and youth, enhance youth awareness and debate on SRH issues in Jordan and further inform policy briefs based on service provider and youth perspectives. The third day, 12 March, is dedicated to country Policy Stakeholders in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Jordan and aims to relay project findings to key policy makers in SRH in Jordan and actively engage key policy makers in the formulation of final policy briefs.
The titles of the four Jordanian research projects are as follows:

• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Young People in Jordan: A Mixed Methods study using Interactive Theatre.
• Understanding and meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of Jordanian and Syrian youth.
• Examining Reproductive Health Services of Women, Female Youth, and Female Refugees in Northern Jordan with a Behavioral Economics Lens,
• Syrian Refugee Youth in Jordan: Early Marriages in Perspective

The prevalence of HIV in Bangladesh is not alarming but the trend is. Every year the number of newly diagnosed infection is increasing along with the number of deaths due to AIDS and AIDS associated diseases, according to the International Journal of HIV/AIDS and Research (IJHR).

Prevalence has been found quite high among the injection drug users and the migrant workers. Particular populations, such as, homosexuals, transgender people are under-represented in the HIV studies and surveillances and these populations are the ones most at risk. Due to the conservative society standard, these populations tend to stay underground. Most HIV infected people are unaware of their infections; those who are aware of their infection are not always under treatment. Rather they are outlawed from their families and often they lose their jobs. Initiatives have been taken globally to end HIV by 2030. Bangladesh has been lagged behind in this battle against HIV. Thus, strategies to work on HIV response with detailed action plans on prevention, treatment, service, research, and surveillance have been taken to meet the global challenge.

Authors: Sultana T, Bin Manjur OH, Omar Md, Kabir Y

Web Link

Abstract

Background: Internationally, methamphetamine use is prevalent among MSM and transgender women (hijra), with studies showing its association with risky sexual behaviour leading to HIV transmission. This study aimed to explore the underlying reasons for methamphetamine use among MSM and hijra in Bangladesh.

Methods: 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with MSM and hijra; and 6 focus group discussions with MSM, hijra and service providers. Data were thematically analysed using manual data analysis procedures.

Finding: Reasons cited for using methamphetamine varied across feminized MSM (i.e. kothis), masculine MSM (i.e. panthis), male sex workers and hijra. For sex workers, increased sexual pleasure and consequent ability to take more clients increased their income. For panthis, methamphetamine enhanced feelings of masculinity and sexual prowess. Kothis were able to feel more feminine due to their ability to receive multiple partners each night. For all participants, methamphetamine restored self-esteem and relieved the stress resulting from stigma.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that reasons for using methamphetamine are not only rooted in the individual’s psyche but also grounded in the socio-cultural expectations about masculinities and femininities in Bangladeshi society. Limited knowledge about the complexities concerning methamphetamine use mean that appropriate counselling and treatment services are non-existent in Bangladesh. The study findings can be used to refine national and international harm reduction policies so as to incorporate and address methamphetamine use.

Web Link

In order to get a better understanding of what helps people adjust to sex after HIV diagnosis, researchers interviewed people living with HIV.

For people living with HIV, sexual adjustment after diagnosis is affected by fears of transmitting the virus and of possible rejection by sexual partners, new qualitative research shows. Healthy sexual adjustment over time is facilitated by partner acceptance; peer, community and professional support; and up-to-date knowledge of HIV transmission, including U=U.

Barriers to healthy sexual adjustment include the persistence of undue fears of transmission and rejection long after diagnosis, which may result in avoiding sex or pairing it with drugs and alcohol. Based on these findings, Dr Ben Huntingdon and colleagues at the University of Sydney propose a new model of sexual adjustment to HIV, published in the BMC Infectious Diseases journal.

The researchers recruited nineteen men and ten women at two public HIV clinics in Sydney and via community groups. Adults with an HIV diagnosis living in Australia were eligible for inclusion. Questionnaires collected demographic information and data on depression, anxiety and sexual satisfaction, before a semi-structured phone interview. The results show that after diagnosis, three distinct sexual behaviour patterns that emerged: sexual inactivity, no change to sex life or an increase in sexual activity.

With the current global focus on early diagnosis and treatment of HIV, those living with HIV on successful treatment are expected to have near-normal life expectancy. This requires a shift in focus from survival to quality of life, including sexual satisfaction and adjustment after an HIV diagnosis. Previously, research into the sex lives of those living with HIV focused on managing the risk of onward transmission (primarily through condom use) and disclosure of status to sexual partners.

Find out more about the results here.

Share-Net in Jordan

In 2020, Share-Net Jordan will build new partnerships on the wealth of analytical work previously conducted. For instance, by highlighting the research findings on priority SRH research gaps and generated knowledge in addition to the mapping of SRH services. Through aligning of the Share-Net Jordan work plan with the ICPD, SDGs, and national development priorities, planning for research and interventions will take into consideration a number of strategic priorities to foster a focus on SRHR, gender equality and the demographic dividend.

Share Net Jordan and The Higher Population Council have been awarded a fund from the Arab Council for Social Science, to conduct research among Syrian refugees in Jordan, on reproductive and mental health.

The fund from the Arab Council for Social Science is to conduct research among Syrian refugees in Jordan, on reproductive and mental health. They have received the funds together with the University of Jordan, University of Edinburgh, University of the West of Scotland and T.H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA. The research will be conducted under the title " Intersection between Early Marriage and Adolescent Childbearing on Perinatal Reproductive and Mental Health among Syrian Refugees in Jordan. The duration of the implementation 15-April-2020 to 31-May-2021

The objectives of the study are to:

• Understand the retrospective perspectives of Syrian women and mothers about their experiences of early marriage in the context of conflict and displacement;
• Explore the drivers that enhance young married women’s vulnerability to experiencing poor sexual and reproductive health(SRH); gender-based violence and mental health;
• Explore the multifaceted aspects that contribute to understandings of fragility and wellbeing within a crisis-affected context;
• Identify the factors that that promote the resilience of, married young Syrian women and mothers with a view to informing programmatic interventions, especially those aimed at improving access to and utilization of health services.

The proposed project is continuation of a series of initiatives implemented by Share-Net Jordan including a published comprehensive study and Policy brief entitled “Child Marriage in Jordan” in 2017, which sought to determine the prevalence of the phenomenon among Jordanian and non-Jordanian women as well as patterns and trends with respect to time and location.

Share-Net Jordan will continue to engage governmental ministries, civil society organizations, the media, academic and research institutions, and specialists and researchers. Special attention will be given to the involvement of youth through universities and youth organizations. Finally, Share-Net Jordan sees a potential role for political and religious leaders to lend their support.

Share-Net Jordan developed a partnership approach in 2019, together with their members and Steering Committee with the motto “Towards Unity in Action.” It is simply based on the existing partnerships we have and the ones we aspire to enlist in 2020 through our activities. This approach provides focus and direction to Share-Net Jordan in setting its operational priorities. It is designed with a view to support the Jordanian efforts to achieve the Nairobi Commitments as well as the SDGs. It takes note of opportunities and realities in Jordan as well as of the challenges posed in the government’s prioritization for action, which focuses on economic growth and to a lesser degree on “social” issues. The guiding principles for Share-Net Jordan are based on a human rights-based approach, gender equality, results-based management and capacity development. In the area of gender equality and human rights, the focus is to strengthen independent researchers in the effort to link research outcomes to policy making. Another area will be to build on the comparative advantages, progress achieved, and lessons learnt under the previous project phase by analyzing priority problems related to SRH, national priorities and alignment of Share-Net members and partners towards these.

During the first two month of the year, 2020 10 persons registered as a member. Currently Share-Net Jordan has 146 individual members and 15 organizations.

Follow Share-Net Jordan online

Share-Net in Burundi

Share-Net Burundi organized a Knowledge Fair on sexual and reproductive health and rights in December 2019, with a strong focus on adolescents and young people. The main activities of the fair were marked by scientific sessions during which researchers and experts presented the results of their studies, as well as lessons learned and good practices on sexual health and reproductive health of adolescents and young people. Experts from WHO, SDSR Project of GIZ, Consortium of Researchers of Harvard University, University of Burundi, University of Amsterdam, Care and Pathfinder, shared presentations and experiences. Read more about the Knowledge Fair in Burundi in the news section of this eNewsletter.

Share-Net Burundi organized a workshop in Burundi to present the results of the 1st International Co-Creation Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; which took place in Amsterdam in October 2019 under the theme: “Engaging together in the application of knowledge”. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the National Program for Reproductive Health. This workshop, which took place on December 24, 2019, brought together members of the communities of practice working on the two themes that were addressed during the conference in Amsterdam: (1) “Breaking the silence around infertility” and (2) “Access to quality sexual and reproductive health services for people affected by conflicts, crises or fragility”.

The main objectives of this meeting was to share with the CoPs members the results of the narrative review carried out on the 2 themes as well as the knowledge products developed during the conference in order to identify which specifics products of knowledge could be adapted to the local context and implemented in 2020.

Follow Share-Net in Burundi online

Share-Net in Bangladesh

Share-Net in Bangladesh continuously encourages its members to share their knowledge products so that through this platform, it can be disseminated to a wider network of individuals who are working on, or interested to learn about SRHR. This January, Share-Net Bangladesh collaborated with UNFPA to share their cartoon series ‘Shahana’. This cartoon series directed towards adolescents highlights the issues of child marriage, sexual harassment, reproductive health, puberty, gender diversity and much more.

With the help of Joya Sikder, President of Somoporker Noya Setu, Share-Net Bangladesh advocated for the transgender community by highlighting an issue that has been quite controversial among them for a long time. The terms ‘hijra’ and ‘transgender’ are often used interchangeably, and Joya Sikder, addresses this issue in this article titled “The terms ‘Transgender’ and ‘Hijra’ are not the same”. This article received more than 1000 views on the website. To read the article click here.

The Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) organized a conference titled ‘Dissemination of National Plan of Action for Adolescent Health Strategy and National Conference on Adolescent Health’ where Share-Net Bangladesh participated with a stall. Share-Net Bangladesh was also selected to give a poster presentation at this event.

Share-Net Bangladesh has been selected to give an Oral Presentation at the International SBCC Summit that will take place in Marakkech, Morocco this year in the month of October.

24 new members registered on this platform in the months of January and February this year. As of 2nd March 2019, Share-Net Bangladesh has total 1, 110 individual members, and 58 organisational members.

Follow Share-Net Bangladesh online: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter

Share-Net in the Netherlands

2020 opened with a great start that we are sure will continue for the rest of the coming year!

Share-Net Netherlands and WO=MEN initiated a round table to draft recommendations for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64). The round table was conducted in collaboration with Rutgers, Amref Flying Doctors, Dance4Life and Atria, at the Humanity House in the Hague, in January 2020. The aim of the round table was to:

1) review the outcomes and lessons learned of the ICPD+25 Nairobi Summit;
2) review the outcomes of the Regional Review Meeting on Beijing +25 in Geneva;
3) update participants about the Beijing +25 process and the pushback on women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and gender justice, including on the Gender, Peace & Security agenda; and 4) start drafting recommendations for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW64).

The roundtable focused on strategizing with the participants present for the remaining Beijing+25 process, taking into account the outcomes of the ICPD+25 and the start of the Beijing+25 process. With this in mind, the meeting touched on political developments and in particular dealing with current opposition regarding these events.

The latter half of the meeting entailed having a consultation session in which those present worked in groups to brainstorm civil society recommendations for Beijing +25. This consultation session was the contribution of The Netherlands to the implementation of these agendas, relating to both national and international policies and financing of its implementation.

On the 13th of February, Share-Net Netherlands hosted a Breakfast Meeting for its members at the Impact Hub in Amsterdam. The meeting consisted of two rounds of gallery walks where each SN-NL Community of Practice (CoP) presented their work plan for 2020. The aim of the meeting was to reach out to Share-Net Netherlands members who have not yet joined a CoP while simultaneously encouraging engagement between CoPs. Many CoPs share cross-cutting areas of interests and so an objective of the meeting was that by presenting each CoP’s work plans, different CoPs would have the opportunity to see where there are overlapping areas of interest. Below is a list of the CoPs whose work plans were presented:

• SRHR and HIV Integration
• Infertility
• Sexual Pleasure
• Multilateral Processes
• SRHR Messaging
• Comprehensive Sexuality Education
• Global Financing Facility
• Linking Research Policy and Practice
• Abortion and Contraception
• LGBTI+ Health
• Engaging Men and Boys

The meeting resulted in many new members for a lot of CoPs and a very fruitful morning filled with brainstorming and idea sharing!

Follow Share-Net in the Netherlands online, click here.

Share-Net International

2020 was off to an exciting start with the launch of our small grants call! The small grants call was launched as a follow-up on the first edition of the Share-Net International SRHR Co-Creation Conference entitled “Engaging in Knowledge Translation Together”. This call offered participants of the conference the opportunity to complete the knowledge product which they had started to develop during the conference in October. It goes without saying that we are very excited about the fantastic proposals that we have received so far!

The aims of the small grants were to:
1. Finalise the SRHR knowledge products which were in the early stages of development during the conference.
2. Design an action/implementation plan of the knowledge products to facilitate uptake of knowledge and/or inform constructive dialogues.
3. Actual implementation of the knowledge products to improve policy and/or practice.

We look forward to see finalised products at the end of 2020!

On this note, we would like to inform you that our second round of small grants, which is open to all Share-Net members, has just been launched! You can find more information about the small grants call on the Share-Net International website.

Furthermore, Share-Net International Secretariat has worked hard to develop the annual work plan which was submitted to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the beginning of February 2020. This work plan compiles the planned activities of all country hubs and dives into how our strategies lead to Share-Net’s long-term outcomes. Approval of the work plan is expected in April!

Preparations and data collection for a narrative review covering the period of 2013 to 2019 have started in the different hubs. This narrative review answers to a request from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to show the impact of Share-Net International’s activities.

We are looking forward to continue with the implementation of all Share-Net activities and to the Co-Creation Conference that will be held in Bangladesh this year!

Lastly, we would like to welcome new members in our governing bodies and say a big thank you to those who left. Nienke Westerhof from Aidsfonds replaced Odette Hekster from PSI-Europe as a member of the Share-Net International Board. She will be representing Share-Net Netherlands. At the secretariat, we are welcoming Charlotte van Tuijl who joined the Share-Net International team as the new Share-Net International officer on February 1st. Maria Codina has been promoted to Share-Net International Country Coordinator/Knowledge Expert which will be a shared position with Kimberley Meijers.

Follow Share-Net International online, click here.

This eNewsletter is a publication of Share-Net International.

Editor
Irene Bartelds

Concept and Design
Mahmud Haider, Shaon Bahadur, Irene Bartelds
RedOrange Media and Communications

Share-Net International

Meike Stieglis, Share-Net International Coordinator – Interim, and Share-Net Netherlands Country Coordinator
m.stieglis@kit.nl
Kimberley Meijers, Share-Net International Country Coordinator
K.Meijers@kit.nl
Maria Codina, Share-Net International Country Coordinator
m.codina@kit.nl
Charlotte van Tuijl, Share-Net International Project Officer
c.v.tuijl@kit.nl

Share-Net Country Hubs:

Kishore Kumer Basak, Share-Net Bangladesh Coordinator
kishore@redorangecom.com
Farbice Kakunze, Share-Net Burundi Coordinator
fkakunze@populationmedia.org
Meike Stieglis, Share-Net Netherlands Coordinator
M.stieglis@kit.nl
Ali Almetleq, Share-Net Jordan Coordinator
Ali.Almetleq@hpc.org.jo

Visiting address:

Mauritskade 64
1092 AD Amsterdam

The Netherlands

P.O. Box 95001
1090 HA Amsterdam

E : info@share-netinternational.org
E : info@share-net.nl
www.share-netinternational.org

With contributions of:

Share-Net Burundi

Share-Net Jordan

Share-Net Netherlands

Share-Net Bangladesh