SCORA Programs There are currently 5 SCORA-related-programs, each of them handling one of our focus areas.
Gender-Based Violence gbv@ifmsa.org The IFMSA program on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) aims to raise awareness and to take positive steps to address and also prevent the harmful effects of GBV on individuals and communities. As the regions in which the IFMSA operates are very diverse, research regarding regionally specific issues and causes of GBV will be an overarching goal to successfully implement relevant programming. Topics under The Program: Violence against women, female genital mutilation, women’s rights, gender equality, sexual violence, women empowerment, gender based abortion, healthcare for victims of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, domestic violence, honor crimes, kidnapping and trafficking. Note: This list is not restrictive, it’s based on activities submitted in the past year. If other topics related to the program are suggested they will also be included. GBV is a sensitive topic so it is open to as many types of activities as possible so as to maximize the positive effect that is being propagated.
Sexuality & Gender Identity sexualitygender@ifmsa.org All societies have norms about what forms of sexuality and what expressions of sexuality is seen as acceptable. Discrimination and stigma towards LGBTI+ individuals and sex workers make these populations more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors and less likely to access healthcare systems. There are many misconceptions about sexuality and gender identity even among medical students and doctors. These misconceptions reinforce the already pervading social stigma surrounding this issue and becomes an additional barrier to access to healthcare in these groups. This program constitutes positive and respectful 18
approach to sexuality and sexual relationships is needed to increase access to healthcare and reduce risky behaviors among vulnerable groups. The SGI program aims to raise awareness about discrimination faced by vulnerable groups, with a special focus on the LGBTI+ community and sex workers; inform medical students and doctors about barriers to healthcare access in these groups; and upskill the medical fraternity in SGI issues, enabling them to provide healthcare in a respectful and non-confrontational manner, and to be an advocate for these vulnerable groups. The program also aims to promote safe sexual practices and provision of safe and age appropriate sex education to young adults.
Maternal Healht & Access to Safe Abortion maternalhealth@ifmsa.org Every year, hundreds of thousands of women die due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. The fact that otherwise harmless circumstances as pregnancy and delivery are something women die from every day is worrisome, especially when most of these deaths are preventable. Unsafe abortions contribute significantly to the burden of maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in countries where abortion laws are very strict and hence restricting all forms of access to safe services. Furthermore, poor health systems and maternal healthcare services fail to detect and prevent the most common and primary causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. The Maternal Health and Access to Safe Abortion Program aims to improve maternal health by first of all building comfort and capacity on the topic among medical students and other healthcare providers. The program is important for our collaboration with Ipas, and therefore one of the main capacity building activities of the program is a training workshop on issues pertaining to safe abortion using a module curriculum (Youth Act for Safe Abortion) developed by Ipas, IFMSA and other www.ifmsa.org