BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, in partnership with the University of Sussex, UK, on Sunday hosted an expert consultation workshop on infertility, assisted reproductive technologies and gender-based violence.
The workshop was hosted under project 鈥楢rts for I-ARTs,鈥� funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council, UK, which focuses on addressing challenges and gendered dimensions of infertility and assisted reproductive technologies or ARTs in short, said a press release.
The workshop, held at BRAC Centre in the capital Dhaka on the day, brought together key stakeholders, including experts in sexual and reproductive health, mental health professionals, gender justice, infertility treatment specialists and academic researchers, policymakers, development health professionals, government officials and policymakers and people from the media.
The event provided a platform for collaborative dialogue on the intersection of infertility, ARTs and gender-based violence, a critical issue often overlooked in public health and policy discourse, the release said.
Speaking at the event, Ashrafi Ahmad, director general of the National Institute of Population Research and Training, stated, 鈥楳otherhood holds immense value in our society, yet the stigma and violence surrounding infertility reflect deeply rooted gender inequalities. Today鈥檚 workshop marks a crucial step in advancing reproductive justice by documenting these experiences and advocating for inclusive, transformative solutions.鈥�
Women鈥檚 health expert and Women鈥檚 Affairs Reform Commission member Halida Hanum Akhter spoke on the historical trajectory of establishment of reproductive health rights in Bangladesh and the current paradox.
Participants engaged in discussions on documenting forms of violence and marginalisation linked to infertility and ARTs, advocating for policies and public services that incorporate a reproductive justice framework and developing gender-sensitive, inclusive interventions to support women navigating infertility and ARTs.
Representatives from the Directorate General of Health Services, the Directorate General of Family Planning, BRAC, RHSTEP, Marie Stopes, Sajida Foundation, medical institutes, UN organisations, academia and researchers were present.