Introduction

The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) was formally established in 1993 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as a regional non-profit and non-governmental organisation concerned with ensuring that development policies and plans influencing women’s health status included women’s and gender perspectives. Co-founded by Rita Raj and Rashidah Abdullah, ARROW’s vision is for women in Asia and the Pacific to be better able to define and control their lives, particularly in the area of women's health and rights. Since 1993, ARROW has been able to make significant progress towards this vision.

Prior to the establishment of ARROW, a survey was conducted among 20 key women NGOs in 20 countries to determine their specific information needs in the area of women and health, including their priority issues, types of materials required, the current sources of information and whether or not they had access to their own documentation centre or that of other organisations nationally. The findings confirmed that women NGOs were most interested in practical information from other countries to assist them in planning and implementing their activities, particularly related to gender-sensitisation, reproductive health and rights, and violence against women.

Mission Statement

ARROW is committed to promoting and protecting women's health rights and needs, particularly in the area of women's sexuality and reproductive health. We believe that good health and wellbeing, and access to comprehensive, accessible and affordable gender-sensitive health services are fundamental human rights.

Long-term Objectives

Health, reproductive health and population policies and programmes are re-oriented to become more accessible, affordable, comprehensive, and include a gender and rights approach.

The women's movement and civil society become stronger and more effective in holding governments accountable to international commitments, influencing policy agendas on women's health and rights, and gaining sustained representation on decision-making structures.

Women's health outcomes and women's lives improve, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including violence against women, especially for poor and marginalised women and girls.