The event included speakers across a range of disciplines including health, law, international development, education and gender. Representatives from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC), United Nations Reproductive Health and Rights Agency (UNFPA), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Next Link (domestic abuse support services in Bristol) also presented. The panels were divided by subject matter of abortion, forced marriage, female genital mutilation/cutting and violence against adolescents and women (VAW), with a concluding plenary panel bringing those themes together.

Challenges presented by the distinct cultural, social, economic and geographical dimensions of different localities and states were addressed. Potential transferability of successful implementation of reproductive rights and empowerment of women and girls from one locality to another was discussed throughout the day. A common theme arising was the core concern with enabling women and girls’ voices and perspectives to be heard and understood. Barriers included constitutional arrangements which underrepresented women and girls’ voices (Ruth Fletcher, Queen Mary Law School; Jane Rooney, Bristol); and trans-jurisdictional obstacles (Sundari Anitha, Lincoln; Geetanjali Gangoli, Bristol; Sajida Iqbal-Darr, Next Link). Methods of enabling women and girls’ voices and perspectives to be heard included innovative questioning and activities that gave individuals the confidence to say what they really believed through non-confrontational indirect means (Mhairi Gibson, Bristol). Technological advancements enabled the experiences of women and girls living in difficult-to-access areas to be communicated to agencies that could then provide targeted responses for helping secure reproductive care (Matt Jackson, UNFPA).

The effectiveness of grass roots feminist movements was discussed (Ruth Fletcher, Queen Mary Law School). Extensive engagement with various stakeholders helped conceive of the actual extent of deprivation of rights for women and girls and the challenges faced (Maria Stavropoulou, ODI). The advantages of human rights as justiciable standards capable of identifying the duty holder and rights bearer was discussed across all of the themes, as well as its disadvantages, including its potential incapacity to account for cultural context (Les Allamby, NIHRC; Ekaterina Yahyaoui, NUI Galway).  

The day was a fantastic opportunity to share methodological approaches to addressing challenges to reproductive care and empowerment of women and girls. It created a sense of solidarity amongst those across the identified themes, across disciplines, and across the globe.

The event was generously funded by Faculty of Social Sciences and Law (FSSL) Faculty Research Groups on International Development, Gender, and Health, Science and Technology Research Group; the Law School Strategic Research Fund; and the FSSL Strategic Research Fund; and School of Education.