Various women’s experiences and positions, overlaid with the differing challenges of COVID-19, posed different challenges in women’s lives and access to health services. As in most crises, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to critical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and hampered authorities’ ability to respond at a time when these services are needed the most. 

While sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) should be considered as an essential health service, the response has shown how needs, generally perceived to be more of women’s concerns, had to take a backseat in response to health gaps created by the pandemic. This study highlighted serious gaps in access to service and provision which were already existing prior to the pandemic but was amplified due to the disruption.

Learn key recommendations to address SRHR and gender-based violence (GBV) concerns of women and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE) with our policy brief entitled Beyond Lockdowns: Narratives of SRHR Initiatives in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The policy brief and its content were developed and produced by Diana Kathrina Fontamillas and Alyanna Tamayo for the University of the Philippines Center for Women’s and Gender Studies (UPCWGS) and OXFAM Philippines.

You may view and download the policy brief here.