In this episode, we’re tackling a pressing issue: the maternal health disparities faced by Black and Latine women—and how systemic barriers within healthcare contribute to these inequities. We’re honored to have two special guests with us today, Lucia Guerra-Reyes, Associate Professor, and Ruhun Wasata, a PhD Candidate in Health Behaviour, both at the Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington. We talk to these authors of a compelling new study published in the SRHM Journal : Provider Perspectives on Maternal Care Challenges for Black and Latine Women in Indiana . Useful links: Read the full paper at srhmjournal.org: Provider perspectives on maternal care challenges for Black and Latine women in Indiana: a qualitative interview study Instructions for authors to publish in the SRHM Journal More papers about maternal health from the SRHM Journal: https://www.srhm.org/key-topics/…

In this episode, we explore a groundbreaking study titled " Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities in Canada: a qualitative study." published in the SRHM Journal. Joining us are Meredith Evans, Medical Anthropologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Keat Welsh, Peer Researcher and disabled Artist, Activist and Educator, both in the Department of Health and Society at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Useful links: Full paper at srhmjournal.org: Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and gender-diverse people with disabilities in Canada: a qualitative study. More SRHM papers related to disability: https://www.srhm.org/key-topics/ Instructions for authors Call for Papers Find out more about Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters at srhm.org…

We’re back with another important conversation that demands attention. Today, we’re diving into acrucial yet often overlooked issue: post-partumobstetric violence —and how the pharmaceuticalization of post-partum depression treatment might be contributing to it. We’re honored to have two brilliant guests with us, the authors of a compelling new commentary in the SRHM Journal: Alicia Ely Yamin – Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School and Adjunct Senior Lecturer on Health Policy and Management at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Lisa Cosgrove – Clinical Psychologist and Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and Faculty fellow at UMas Boston’s Applied Ethics Centre. Useful links: Commentary: Extending the concept of “obstetric violence” to post-partum experiences: cautions regarding the “first ever” pill for post-partum depression SRHM Call for Papers Instructions for authors to publish in the SRHM Journal SRHM Blog…

On Tuesday 25 February 2025, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) hosted an insightful webinar where we discussed the global impact of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The webinar brought together global experts to discuss the far-reaching consequences of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on SRHR. The discussion highlighted the devastating impact of funding freezes, restrictive policies, and ideological attacks on sexual and reproductive healthcare, LGBTQ+ rights, and global health programmes. Moderator Eszter Kismődi Chief Executive, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters Panellists: Mindy Jane Roseman Director of International Law Programs and Director of the Gruber Program for Global Justice and Women’s Rights Yale Law School SRHM Associate Editor Onikepe Owolabi Director of International Research Guttmacher Institute Anand Tamang Director Center for Research on Environment Health and Population Activities (CREHPA) Alice M. Miller Professor in the Practice, Yale School of Public Health; Associate Professor (adjunct) Yale Law School; co-Director, Global Health Justice Partnership of the Yale Law and Public Health Schools Erika Castellanos Executive Director Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE) Allan Maleche Executive Director Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network (KELIN) SRHM Editorial and Advisory Board Member Luisa Cabal Director, Regional Support Team for Latin America and the Caribbean UNAIDS SRHM Editorial and Advisory Board Member Useful links: Watch the recording of the webinar SRHM Instructions for Authors SRHM Call for Papers…

In this episode we have the privilege of hosting a crucial conversation with the authors of a thought-provoking new commentary published in the SRHM Journal: Lessons from Kenya on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy-Making: The Need to Centre Voices from Africa in Global Discourses . Joining us are three powerhouse leaders in the SRHR space—Evelyn Opondo, Africa Regional Director at the International Center for Research on Women; Jade Maina, Executive Director of the Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health; and Nelly Munyasia, Executive Director of the Reproductive Health Network Kenya—all joining us from Nairobi. The podcast discusses the importance of centering African voices in global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) policy-making. It highlights insights from a commentary on Kenya’s SRHR landscape, particularly in response to the rising global anti-rights movement. Useful links: Full commentary: Lessons from Kenya on sexual reproductive health and rights policy-making: the need to centre voices from Africa in global discourses SRHM Journal page: srhmjournal.org SRHM Call for Papers…

In this episode, SRHM Associate Editor Nina Sun sits down with SRHM Journal Executive Editor, Emma Pitchforth, to discuss the key highlights from the 2024 Open Issue of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters Journal. They dive into special collections focusing on sexual pleasure and abortion rights, explore the current call for papers on sexual pleasure, war, and armed conflict, and preview an upcoming call for papers related to abortion rights. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on these critical topics in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Useful links: SRHM Journal Open Issue: srhmjournal.org Call for Papers Instructions for authors…

In this episode of the SRHM Podcast we are honoured to hear from Rochelle Maurice, the author of the recently published SRHM Commentary, We bawl so we are heard: the stories we must tell about obstetric racism⁠. This commentary is available online and is freely available to read. We hope you enjoy listening to this commentary, read by the author in the true spirit of story telling. If you are an author of a paper in the SRHM Journal and would be interested in recording your paper for the podcast, please contact us at info@srhm.org.…

This episode is an AI recording of the paper 'Missed period? The significance of period-tracking applications in a post- Roe America' by Bridget Kelly, the Director of Research for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Population Institute, Washington, DC, USA, and Maniza Habib, a Research Associate, Population Institute, Washington, DC, USA. The paper sheds important light on the possibility of misusing personal health data collected by period tracking apps to implicate a person of an abortion in states where it is illegal, post- Roe v Wade . It explores how if users could be assured that their sensitive health data are protected, period-tracking apps could be a valuable instrument in helping to safeguard bodily autonomy. To ensure the safety of users and enable period-tracking apps to perform their originally intended function of empowering menstruators, a series of actions will need to take place, which are discussed in detail in this episode. Link to the paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26410397.2023.2238940#d1e245…

This episode of the SRHM podcast is a recording of an important webinar hosted by SRHM on the (mis)use of evidence in contested rights on Wednesday 20 November 2024. In this online event, we heard from the authors of the commentary published in the SRHM Journal ‘ The (mis)use of evidence in contested rights: the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls’ report on “prostitution and violence ”' and the Global Co-ordinator of The Global Network of Sex Work Projects. The paper is available online and is open access. Thecommentary raises concerns about the basis on which a recent report on ‘prostitution and violence,’ by a UN human rights expert, rests its arguments. In this webinar, the authors will argue that criminal law which makes both the buying and selling of sex a crime hurts the very people who are most at risk, and that ‘trafficking’ is not the same as ‘sex work’. In a time where human rights as a space of dignity and freedom are under attack, it is critical to raise these concerns and build the case for good practices to support the future of human rights. Useful links: SRHM Commentary: ‘ ⁠The (mis)use of evidence in contested rights: the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls’ report on “prostitution and violence⁠ ”' by Susana T Fried, Alice M Miller, Rupsa Mallik, Ivana Radačić & Esteban Restrepo-Saldarriaga…

This episode is an AI recording of a highly insightful paper by Catherine Rousseau, a PhD candidate at the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at Ottawa University, titled Cimate change and sexual and reproductive health: what implications for future research? As the world grapples with the increasing challenges of climate change, researchers are observing an increase in mental health issues, anxiety, and environmental concerns that can influence people's sexual and reproductive health - an issue often overlooked in research. The paper discusses the need for a comprehensive approach to address climate-related concerns with respect to SRH to guide future research, and address how climate-change-related impacts manifest in the lives of individuals and communities. Link to the paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26410397.2023.2232196#d1e122…

On this Friday 8 November 2024, Intersex Day of Solidarity, SRHM is pleased to release a new podcast episode with Morgan Carpenter and Mauro Cabral Grinspan as they discuss the evolution of the intersex rights movement, it's successes and it's current challenges. Morgan Carpenter is an Associate Professor and bioethicist at Sydney Health Ethics in the University of Sydney School of Public Health and Executive Director of Intersex Human Rights Australia. Mauro Cabral Grinspan is an Argentinian intersex and trans activist and Principal Consultant, and Project Coordinator for a new international project aimed at dismantling human rights violations in medical settings on people with innate variations of sex characteristics at Intersex Human Rights Australia. Useful links: SRHM Blog: ⁠⁠Intersex Awareness Day and list of intersex related papers from the SRHM Journal⁠⁠ Call for Papers : SRHM accepts papers on all topics related to sexual and reproductive health and rights in our annual Open Issue and welcomes more commentaries, research and perspectives on intersex human rights.…

In a new and timely episode of the SRHM Podcast, Eszter Kismödi speaks to Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli, distinguished expert on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and adolescent sexual and reproductive health, about why a Harris-Walz win is crucial for the sexual and reproductive health of young Americans and young people around the world. This episode stems from a blog post published last week on the SRHM blog by Dr. Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli and Margaret Smith, a young American woman currently studying reproductive and sexual health research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In this important blog post, Maggie gives her personal insights as a young American who was born and raised in the USA, about the state of CSE growing up. She also gives her reflections as to why a Harris-Walz win is so desperately needed, both for the sexual and reproductive health of young people in the USA like herself and her peers, and in the wider world. Useful links: Blog post: Why is a Harris-Walz win crucial for the sexual and reproductive health of young Americans and young people around the world? By Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli and Margaret Smith…

This episode of the SRHM Podcast is an AI audio recording of the paper What do oral contraceptive pills have to do with human rights abuses in sport? by Katrina Karkazis and Michele Krech published ahead of Intersex Awareness Day on 26 October. We hope you enjoy listening to the reading of this paper and we'd love to hear your thoughts. You can contact us at info@srhm.org. Please note that references, citations and tables have been removed from this audio recording for ease of listening. The full paper can be found online at the link below. Useful links: What do oral contraceptive pills have to do with human rights abuses in sport? SRHM blog for Intersex Awareness Day 2024…

On 16 October 2024, Eszter Kismödi, Chief Executive of SRHM, spoke to James Yap, Acting Director of the International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and Anjli Parrin, Director of the Global Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School about a report which reviews Canada's complicity in violations of women’s rights to maternal healthcare in Gaza. Both of these institutions jointly prepared a submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) highlighting Canada’s consistent shortcomings in meeting its transnational human rights obligations and following extensive research conducted by the clinics on the grave impact of the conflict in Gaza on women and children since October 7, 2023. The SRHM Journal has been documenting human rights violations for more than 30 years, with a rich history showing how international human rights law impacts people's lives. As conflicts continue in different parts of the world, SRHM is calling for a wide range of forms of evidence, including perspectives from those involved, service delivery accounts, rapid qualitative and quantitative research, critical analyses and testimonies related to SRHR in conflict. Please read more about this call for papers at the link below. Useful links Read the full report to CEDAW: FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY FAIL? ASSESSING CANADA’S HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS IN GAZA Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on the Occasion of the Committee's Review of Canada's 10th Report SRHM Editorial and Call for Papers: Sexual and reproductive health and rights in Palestine – securing spaces to speak out by Laura Ferguson & Sapna Desai…

Eszter Kismodi, Chief Executive of Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) speaks to Dr. Faysal El Kak to get some first hand information of the situation with sexual and reproductive health and the human rights situation in Beirut during the bombings of Beirut and other areas in Lebanon in September and October 2024. Dr. El Kak is the Director of Women Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Program, American University of Beirut, President of the Eastern Mediterrean Federation of the World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) and Editorial and Advisory Board Member for SRHM.…