GALE The Global Alliance for LGBT education
June 12, 2008 - From 15 - 18 February 2009, an International Conference on Gender-based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health will be organized in Mumbai, India.
The National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (Indian Council of Medical Research), UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, World Health Organization and the Indian Society for the Study of Reproduction and Fertility will be organizing an International Conference on Gender-based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health. A number of national and international organizations are collaborating in organizing this Conference.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is both a human rights as well as a public health concern. The United Nations General Assembly in 1993 defined violence against women as "any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life". GBV is pervasive and is observed throughout the world, in both developing and developed country settings. It can be emotional, physical or sexual and is typically perpetrated by someone who is familiar to or acquainted with the victim. Victims are overwhelmingly women. The World Health Report estimates that at least one of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused. The experience of violence is associated with serious consequences for women's physical and mental health.
Violence against women impoverishes individuals, families and communities, reducing the economic development of each nation. Reproductive health consequences for abused women are both direct and indirect. For example, violence during pregnancy has been associated with maternal mortality, pregnancy loss and pregnant related complications, sexual violence with heightened risk of acquiring STIs. At the same time, violence against women is associated with women's inability to negotiate safe sex practices, lack of control over contraception leading to unwanted/unintended pregnancies, abortion, unwanted births, premature birth, low infant birth-weight, and infant morbidity and death of both infant as well as women.
This conference aims to expand what is known about the magnitude of gender-based violence and its impact on the health of the individual and the society, to fill gaps in our understanding of factors underlying the experience of violence and consequences of violence for women's, families' and nations' well-being and programmatic responses intended to eliminate sexual violence. More specifically the objectives of organizing this conference are to: (i) review the magnitude and determinants of GBV; (ii) explore the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) consequences of GBV; (iii) share experiences of programmes and interventions for the prevention of GBV, their impact on SRH and gaps and challenges that remain; (iv) review relevant policies, programmes and their implementation; and (v) suggest recommendations on programme strategies and policies to address GBV and SRH.
Mounting evidence of widespread prevalence of GBV and its consequences for women's SRH calls for urgent and multi-pronged public health responses that aim to both prevent perpetration of gender-based violence and assist the survivors of this social plague. This conference will offer an international forum for researchers, programme managers, policy-makers, women's groups, health activists, health care providers, human rights groups and others who are concerned about gender-based violence to come together to share experiences and evidence intended to shed light on and work towards reducing the prevalence of GBV.
On behalf of the organizers of the meeting, it is our privilege to invite you to participate in the Conference. We hope you will honour this timely and important International Conference with your presence.
Dr Iqbal Shah Dr Balaiah Donta
Scientist, Team Co-ordinator Deputy Director (Sr. Grade)
UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank National Institute for Research
Special Programme of Research, in Reproductive Health
Development and Research Jehangir Merwanji Street
Training in Human Reproduction Parel
Geneva, Switzerland Mumbai, India
Email: shahi@who.int E-mail: bdonta2007@yahoo.co.in
The scientific programme will include a keynote address, plenary lectures and symposia sessions, panel discussions, and poster presentations. The programme will be broad based and will address the key areas outlined below. Sessions will be multi-disciplinary, including findings derived from operational, psycho-social and behavioural research and programmes related to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health.
Provisional TOPICS
• Various forms and determinants of GBV
• Linkages between GBV and SRH
• Gender power imbalances, violence and SRH
• GBV, sexuality and SRH
• GBV and reproductive health (Unwanted pregnancy, RTI/STI, HIV, higher fertility, shorter birth spacing, contraception)
• Men as perpetrators and victims of GBV
• Men as partners in prevention of GBV and promoting SRH care
• SRH implications of GBV in conflict situations
• Vulnerability to GBV (trafficked women, female sex workers, intravenous drug users, pregnant women, migrants, HIV positive individuals, ethnic minorities, physically and mentally challenged)
• Youth and gender based violence
• Women survivors of violence and their SRH needs and rights
• Socio-psychological dimension of GBV in SRH Care
• Managing SRH consequences of GBV
• Challenges of addressing GBV within SRH programmes
• Best practices in addressing GBV within SRH clinic settings
• Community based programmes in addressing GBV
• Role of health systems and health workers in addressing GBV
• Counseling approaches
• Evaluating GBV and SRH programmes
• Law enforcement and GBV
• Laws, policies on GBV in different sectors
• Ethical issues in research and programmes on GBV and SRH
• Estimating economic costs of GBV
• Methodological issues in research on GBV and SRH
The abstract (about 300 words) typed on plain paper, using Microsoft Word (12 pt. Times New Roman) should be sent by e-mail to the organizing secretary (gbv2009@yahoo.co.in, bdonta2007@yahoo.co.in). The abstracts should include: title of the paper, author(s), name of the institute, objectives of the study, methods, results, conclusions and recommendations. The final date to receive abstracts is 15 October 2008.
The language of the Conference will be English. Simultaneous translation will not be available.
The Conference will be inaugurated at 7.00 p.m. on 15 February 2009. All registered delegates will be invited to attend the inaugural function.
An international exhibition of scientific equipment, supplies and services will be organized at the venue of the meeting.
All foreign delegates are requested to check with their local Indian Embassy or Consulate.
The registration fee is payable through a Bank Draft to Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Mumbai. Accommodation charges are to be paid directly to the hotel.
The conference will be held at the InterContinental The Grand Mumbai, Sahar Airport Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400059.
Phone: (+91 22) 66683240; Fax: (+91 22) 6668 3278. www.intercontinental.com; Contact person: Ms Radhika De
Accommodation can be arranged in various categories of hotels of international standards and at other places to suit your budget. In the event you need any assistance for booking accommodation, please let us know. Special conference rates have been negotiated with various hotels including "InterContinental The Grand Mumbai".
Slide Presentations
LCD Projectors will be available. If any other special equipment is required, please specify at the time of submitting the abstract.
Poster Presentations
Poster stands to accommodate a poster of 4' (height) x 3' (width) will be made available at the venue.
Delegates from outside India
US $ 350 Before 01 December 2008
US $ 400
Indian delegates
Rs 5,000 Before 01 December 2008
Rs 6,000
ISSRF members
Rs 4,000 Before 01 December 2008
Rs 5,000
Students (Indian)
Rs 3,000 Before 01 December 2008
Rs 4,000
Students (Outside India)
US $ 200 Before 01 December 2008
US $ 250
One-day registration for Indian delegates
Rs 2,500 Before 01 December 2008
Rs 3,000
Dr Balaiah Donta
National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health
Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, India
Tel: (+91 22) 24192040, 24192002, 24192000
Fax: (+91 22) 24139412
E-mail: gbv2009@yahoo.co.in; bdonta2007@yahoo.co.in;
biostatirr@hotmail.com