Seminar on sexual health and reproductive rights held
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2016:
A one day 'Judicial Colloquium on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights' organized by Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) and Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) was held at the conference hall of Classic Grande, Chingmeirong, Imphal.
High Court of Manipur and Executive Chairman of MSLSA Justice N Kotiswar, Guwahati High Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Guwahati High Court Justice BK Sharma graced the inaugural session as presidium members.
Justice Kotiswar said the seminar will provide a platform to discuss various aspects on sexual health and reproductive rights.
He also deliberated on the hardship on implementing such needful rights.
Citing certain examples where reproductive rights were violated, Justice Kotiswar said that lack of proper implementation of the law, schemes and absence of fundamental rights in policies and providers training are the major hurdles.
Justice Kotiswar further said that the seminar will give an opportunity to familiarize the legal community with legal and human rights associated with sexual reproductive health and rights.
Moreover, it will also provide an opportunity for Judges and legal professionals to exchange ideas and discuss their experiences and knowledge on the goal of developing informed legal strategies and judicial approaches to sexual reproductive health and rights.
Meanwhile, Director of HRLN Manipur Rakesh Meihoubam asserted that such seminar can deduce certain mechanism to tackle the hindrances in providing the fundamental rights given by the law.
In the technical session, HRLN Delhi Sarita Barpanda spoke on 'Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health in India', Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on 'Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (prohibition of sex-selection) Act, 1994 and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971', Justice BK Sharma on 'Reproductive Rights as Constitutional Rights' and HRLN Delhi Pritisha Borah on 'Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights: Respectful Maternity Care' .