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Societal structures and inequalities deeply shape experiences of menstruation and the menstrual cycle. The resulting stigma, discrimination, and constrained access leads to significant loss of human and economic capital and potential. Limited investments and competing priorities further undermine sustained action on menstrual health (MH) and related rights across the lifespan. Our session delves into two interlinked approaches, feminist and grassroots leadership for MH, and integration of MH and SRHR, highlighting learnings from both, to launch a united approach to menstrual justice for gender Equality.
When: Wednesday 19th June (Day 3), 3:30-5pm EAT
Where: Room MH 2.2, Kigali Convention Centre
Session Code: 17463
Please note this is a concurrent session at the Women Deliver Conference 2023 and is only open to in-person delegates
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Irise Institute East Africa/The Period Equality Network
Patricia Humura is an African Feminist and a Human Rights Practitioner living and working in Uganda. She serves as the Programme Manager & Focal Point for Policy Advocacy & Partnerships at Irise Institute East Africa, is a youth advisor to the Vibrant Voices Consortium, and a HER VOICE Fund Mentor. Since November 2022, she has served as a Regional Peer Panelist of the FREE STEM FUND
Youth Champion – Plan International
Sholeha is a menstrual health peer educator with hearing and speech disabilities from Indonesia, providing menstrual health education and promotion among her peers with disabilities. Sholeha has participated in a Dutch government funded menstrual health education program since 2020 delivered by Plan International Indonesia.
Regional Director – Irise Institute East Africa
A Programme Management and policy advocacy Specialist by training with over fifteen years of experience, Lillain is currently a member of the Global Menstrual Collective-Core Group, National Coalition on menstrual health coordination under Min. of Education and Sports of Uganda and Advisory member on Global Period Poverty.
Global Menstrual Collective
Dr. Arundati Muralidharan is a public health professional and the coordinator of the Global Menstrual Collective. She has close to two decades of experience in public health programs, research and policy advocacy. She is a passionate advocate of menstrual health, and works globally and in India to build and strengthen the menstrual health ecosystem through knowledge sharing, evidence generation, policy advocacy, and multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaborative action.
Zamara Foundation
Esther Wambui Kimani is the founder of Zamara Foundation, a feminist organisation working to strengthen women’s and girls’ voices in marginalised communities to challenge and transform the status quo. She has extensive experience in feminist leadership development, movement building for social change, and advancement of women’s and girls’ rights and advocacy.
Twekonyera Foundation
Patricia Kajumba is a dedicated Social Worker based in Uganda who has made it her mission to improve the quality lives of women and girls in her community through providing organic hygienic menstrual solutions, products, and education. She believes in a world where women and girls are not limited by a natural process such as menstruation and is a passionate advocate for women and girls.
Together Alive Health Initiative
Charles is the founder of Together Alive Health initiative (TAHI), a youth-led organization that focuses on championing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and serves as the Chairperson of African Youth and Adolescent Network on Population and Development Uganda Chapter, working to ensure that girls and young women have access to the resources they need to thrive.
PSI Pakistan
Ayesha is Country Director of Population Services International (PSI)-Pakistan. With an MBA in Marketing, she has 17 years of experience in Social and Behavior Change Communications in Pakistan. She is a strong advocate for accessible and personalized delivery of high-quality, affordable SRHR information, products and services, and she works to create a conducive policy environment for this.
UNFPA East and Southern Africa
Lydia is the Regional Director for UNFPA, East and Southern Africa. A human rights lawyer and international development and humanitarian leader, she has 30 years’ experience in women and children’s rights, constitutional reform, health systems strengthening, sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, gender justice, women’s economic empowerment and economic justice, including in humanitarian settings.
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Noortje is senior policy officer in Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands. She has a background in social development and gender equality. Currently she works for the directorate for social development on SRHR related topics such as access to safe abortion, comprehensive sexuality education and marginalized groups.
This session is being jointly hosted by The Global Menstrual Collective, Irise International, and Irise Institute East Africa.
For further information, please contact:
