May 28: International Day of Action for Women's Health

Women's sexual and reproductive rights are fundamental in the search for a more equitable society for all. On the 28th we commemorate the human right that each of them has to access health services throughout their lives in a dignified, comprehensive and timely manner: without biases of gender, religion, sex, race or ethnicity.

This year we have had different events that demonstrate that more than necessary, the gender approach is indispensable for the health system. At the national level, we commemorate 10 years of the C-355 ruling that allowed the decriminalization of abortion in three cases; a fact that undoubtedly empowers women and takes steps on the right path to the recognition of their autonomy to decide about their sexuality and reproduction. Even so, there is still a long way to go.

At the district level, we are about to finish the first six months of the present administration. The dismantling of the Healthy Territories program, which included the Friendly Centers, has generated uncertainty, because they have been successful: they are centers for information and voluntary interruption of pregnancy (IVE). Continuing with policies and institutions that have been successful has a positive impact on the health of citizens, therefore it is essential that these centers remain active, disabling them would be a step backwards for the recognition of the rights of women and girls.

At the regional level, we continue to face great challenges to ensure the sexual and reproductive rights of female citizens. In 21 departments of the country we found a great gap in the health system: of all the regions studied, Putumayo (2.6%) and Arauca (0.54) had the highest rates of abortion in children under 14 years of age (by law, a pregnancy in children under 14 years of age is the result of sexual abuse).

Cultural patterns, bureaucratic procedures and social sanctions continue to hinder the access of the most vulnerable populations to planning services and voluntary interruption of pregnancy. It really must be an intersectoral approach: all actors and sectors involved with children and adolescents must be sensitized and accept that we are sexual beings and that we require information and services to be able to understand and enjoy sexuality.

The International Day of Action for Women's Health reminds us that the commitment to each one of them is everyone's: public institutions, health care providers, non-governmental organizations and civil society.

We are moving towards national reconciliation and for this health and gender are part of the agenda.

Sinergias gives three keys to guarantee dignified access to health care for women and girls of all ages:

1. Guaranteeing human, monetary and physical resources for comprehensive health care is essential: Training system actors in the understanding, acceptance and implementation of the legal norms that protect and guarantee the rights of women and children is fundamental.

2. Promote the participatory adaptation of services: living in a country with 123 ethnic groups is a call to adapt intercultural models that seek to offer better access to care for women while respecting their culture and autonomy.

3. Conducting operational research processes to improve the performance of sexual and reproductive health, mental health and maternal and child health services is necessary to provide sufficient evidence to address the problems in each context.