How to respond to threats to reproductive rights in Central and Eastern Europe

Polish organization Federation for Women and Family Planning organized a regional workshop on "How to respond to threats to reproductive rights in Central and Eastern Europe" in Warsaw in April. The workshop brought together 35 participants - activists for women's rights in the area of sexual and reproductive health and human rights (SRHR) from 20 countries, including representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the U.S. Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR). Representing CESI, Sanja Cesar attended the event where she presented a campaign for introduction of sexual education in Croatian schools and a civic coalition Stop risky sexual education.

Throughout the workshop participants have gained knowledge and skills for planning and implementing effective strategies and campaigns on SRHR at national, regional and international levels, in the context of the growing influence of anti-choice groups.

Working atmosphere

Participants have discussed the following issues during the three days of the workshop:

• the political and legal obstacles that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe face in the process of improving access to sexual and reproductive rights and health;
• the impact of anti-choice groups on policies that regulate SRHR-programs in Central and Eastern Europe;
• the challenges of reproductive rights at the national and international level in the context of growing anti-choice opposition;
• the development of tools for planning campaigns and the effective mobilization of the public to promote SRHR at national, regional and international levels.