Navigating Women's Reproductive Health and Access to Information Challenges

The program delves into the multifaceted issues surrounding women's reproductive health, with a particular focus on the crucial role of access to information. This program aims to explore both the rights individuals have to reproductive health services, as per the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and the significant challenges posed by restricted access to information. Through comprehensive discussions with expert speakers we seek to highlight the impact of these barriers on personal health and public health. This program will cover various aspects of reproductive health and access to care aiming to inform and empower individuals with knowledge and resources.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, is the only human rights treaty which affirms the reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations.

In 2022, the ALA Executive Board released a statement opposing policies and legislation that ban content, restrict access to information, or compromise library users’ right to seek information without the subject matter of their inquiries becoming known to others. In June 2024, COSWL release a statement "COSWL Calls for Conference Site Reviews in Locations Limiting Women's Rights." https://www.ala.org/aboutala/committees/ala/ala-coswl