Book Launch: The Global Politics of Sexual and Reproductive Health

The Global Politics of Sexual and Reproductive Health by Maria Tanyag (Department of International Relations, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs) is the latest book published by the Oxford University Press Gender and International Relations series. It examines everyday inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and the failure to address these rights in crisis settings. The book advances a richer definition of bodily autonomy and shows why it should not be a collateral issue where patriarchal bargains need to be made in order to advance feminism in global agendas, but rather as its cornerstone which ties together all sites, forms, and temporalities of gender equality together. The book includes new empirical evidence drawn from primary field research in the Philippines and analysis of wide-ranging secondary sources across conflict and disaster settings.

Building on the central puzzle and findings of Maria Tanyag’s new book, a panel of speakers will reflect on why SRHR remain so contested despite clearly being so central to survival and wellbeing. Join us to hear their insights on the book’s unique contributions, as well as evidence and different perspectives on SRHR within Australia, the Asia Pacific region, and globally.

Speakers

Bonney Corbin is the Chair of the Australian Women’s Health Alliance, Director of Advocacy for MSI Asia Pacific, and Co-Chairs the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Consortium. Bonney is also a member of the Women's Health Products Working Group at the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and the National Women's Health Advisory Council.

Noelene Nabulivou is the Founder and Executive Director of Diverse Voices and Action for Equality or 'DIVA for Equality' in Fiji, working from local to global since 2011 on Gender & Sexual rights, Social, Economic, Ecological and Climate Justice. Convenor of Pacific Feminist SRHR Coalition; Pacific Feminist Community of Practice, Women Defend Commons Network, and Co-convenor of the Pacific Gender Coordination Mechanism.

Faustina Pereira is an International Human Rights Lawyer, Legal Scholar and Gender and Development Specialist. She is a Senior Director to Go Equal and Senior Fellow at the Center for Peace and Justice, BRAC University.  She has served as Vice President and Regional Director (Asia) for the Center for Reproductive Rights.

Maria Tanyag is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations, Coral Bell School, and an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Fellow.

The panel will be chaired by Professor Bina D’Costa from the Department of International Relations, Coral Bell School. Bina is currently an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow.  She is also a Chief Investigator and ANU node leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (CEVAW) and a UN Special Procedures Mandate Holder in the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.

Light refreshments will be served at the start of the event. Registration is essential for this in-person only event.

Thank you to the ANU Gender Institute for their generous support of this event. The views expressed in the event are those of the authors and panel and are not necessarily those of the Australian Government or Australian Research Council.