Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan

Watch the recording here

The global health landscape has undergone significant shifts, impacting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), includling the emerging harmful anti-rights movements that hinder SRHR progress. Advocates, practitioners, multilateral leaders, private sector innovators and duty bearers will highlight the importance of bodily autonomy and reproductive justice. They will also share their insights on how to address urgent challenges in SRHR. Converstations will center on how to catalyze funding and expand our understanding of family planning, keeping bodily autonomy and its impact on personal agency, equality, and well-being at the forefront of much-needed global shifts. This will be followed by a fireside talk that will explore the far-reaching consequences of abortion restrictions and the women who are working to restore this crucial right. Together we will map sustained progress towards a world where everyone can make decisions about their own life and future.

Opening: Jennie Joseph, Common Sense ChildBirth

Moderator: Dr. Joannie Bewa, MD, MPH is a physician, researcher, global advocate for girls, women and reproductive health

Group 1:

• Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director UNFPA
• Catalina Devandas Aguilar, Executive Director Disability Rights Fund (DRF)

Group 2:

• Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Easter Okech, KEFEADO in Kenya

Group 3:

• Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director FP2030
• Kevin Ali, Chief Executive Officer Organon

Minister Harjit Sajjan, Minister of International Development of Canada

Fireside Chat (Abortion Rights):

• Dr. Angela Akol, Director IPAS Africa Alliance
• Ana Cristina Gonzalez Velez, Causa Justa
• Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights

This side-event co-hosted by the Government of Canada, UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage, and Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage, will provide an opportunity for an intergenerational discussion on the urgent need to accelerate action to end child, early and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU).

As the polycrisis of conflict, climate change, food insecurity and COVID-19 continue to have devastating impacts for women and girls, we must work together to ensure that progress made to reduce the prevalence of CEFMU is not reversed. It will bring together young global leaders, influencers, and key stakeholders driving action to end CEFMU around the world. The event will encourage open dialogue on challenges and effective tools for preventing CEFMU, including through comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) – an empowering tool for changing harmful gender norms and practices that perpetuate child marriage and gender inequalities. Organized by Government of Canada