Sexual and reproductive health and rights

In 2020, Médecins du Monde adopted the broader definition of sexual and reproductive health and rights proposed by the Guttmacher Lancet Commission. This new definition includes rights as an inherent component of access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.

In practice, and for many years now, Médecins du Monde has based its actions on a complementary approach to public health and human rights. By promoting this new definition, the organisation is affirming the importance of guaranteeing everyone an autonomous, satisfying and safe sex life, as well as respect for their rights in this regard. Médecins du Monde is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to appropriate services in order to guarantee their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Our teams mainly work with people living in precarity. The discrimination that these people experience excludes them from the healthcare system and puts them at greater risk of sexually transmitted infections, gender-based violence, unwanted pregnancies, absence of pregnancy monitoring, etc.

Our work

— Strengthening prevention: prevention materials (leaflets, condoms, etc.) for programmes, one-to-one or group SRHR sessions.

— Improving access to screening: SRHR information and referrals and testing for HIV, STIs, hepatitis B & C, in partnership with public institutions and local laboratories. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are offered for HIV, HCV and syphilis.

— Facilitating access to healthcare: partnerships with mainstream health services and physical and psychological support for patients.

— Documenting people’s experiences in relation to these diseases. Our challenges

— To support mainstream services with making contact and treating those excluded from prevention measures.

— To develop the availability of comprehensive and appropriate care.