Strategic Interventions to Build Momentum on SRHR - Response to COVID-19

This project will enable Inter Pares to conduct activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in El Salvador and Bangladesh over an 18-month period. The response focuses on strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) knowledge and advocacy services and support. Local partners Colectiva Feminista and Nijera Kori will conduct online campaigns to raise awareness about the increased risk of sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) teenage pregnancies and marital rape due to the conditions arising from the pandemic and they will undertake research on the impact of COVID-19 on women SRHR and the LGTBI+ population. Project activities include:(1) strengthening youth group SRHR knowledge and advocacy through interactive activities including artistic workshops that will allow them to recognize and defend their sexual and reproductive rights; (2) increasing phone support lines in two new regions in El Salvador to provide women and adolescents with SRHR/SGBV information and counselling; (3) establishing adolescent-friendly spaces in Nijera Kori sub-centres in Bangladesh to allow adolescents to learn and discuss SRHR/SGBV topics show films and learn about protecting themselves on social media – all while following COVID-19 health protocols; (4) undertaking an online campaign to raise awareness about the increased risk of SGBV and teenage pregnancies due to the conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic; and (5) completing research and a report on the issue of SGBV and marital rape in Bangladesh. This project expects to reach 2 330 people in Bangladesh and over 4 000 people in El Salvador. An additional 20 000 people will receive SRHR and SGBV violence information through online campaigns and 49 300 family and community members will benefit indirectly from all of these activities.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) Increased utilization of gender-responsive and adolescent-friendly SRHR services in targeted communities; (2) Improved response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) including early and forced child marriage in targeted communities; and (3) Increased government and civil society responsiveness to the SRHR of women and adolescent girls.