The Gobal South Project

In 2015, we will reach the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Similarly, the landmark international agreement documents of the Beijing Platform of Action (BPfA) and the Cairo Programme of Action (ICPD PoA) will also reach specific time-bound goals. Southern civil society input into international conference documents, as in the era of Cairo and Beijing, has not been replicated in the Millennium Declaration or the MDGs. Even the +10 anniversary of the MDGs, saw separate times and separate sessions for civil society organisations and governments. However, it is critical that southern civil society is able to articulate southern demands, to ensure that development agendas of governments, inter-governmental organisations and donors are in tandem with their needs, realities and experiences. This project aims to give southern civil society the means and avenue of articulating a regional SRHR agenda and distilling regional agendas into a global SRHR agenda. The strength of the agendas are demonstrated by evidence and data coupled with perspectives and experiences of practitioners on the ground.

Learn more about the Global South Project here

Women and SRHR and NCDs

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes have become the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. It is projected to rise by 15% over the next ten years increasing the global burden of disease. Contrary to popular perceptions, it is the low- and middle-income countries that will be most affected, because compared to the developed countries, they will face higher levels of NCDs at earlier stages of economic development, with fewer resources, and with less time to respond effectively. Asia is slated to be the new epicenter for NCDs, especially diabetes due to the sheer number of cases. While, women's sexual and reproductive rights (SRHR) are far from being achieved, noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes is rapidly emerging as a major challenge, affecting the SRH of women especially the poorest and vulnerable in the developing countries (both low- and middle- income countries). Diabetes – a critical missing link – is increasingly becoming an impediment to the achievement of the sexual and reproductive health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region. While there is ample evidence to show the debilitating effects of diabetes on women's health, especially their sexual and reproductive health, it has received little or no attention within the SRHR circles.

Learn more about Women and SRHR and NCDs here

Women's Health and Rights Advocacy Partnership (WHRAP)

The Women's Health and Rights Advocacy Partnership (WHRAP) is part of the vision shared by ARROW and her partners to move forward the sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda through advocacy partnerships across the region. 

The WHRAP modality brings together NGO partners who are committed to strengthening civil society capacity to effectively advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) at the local, national and regional levels. 

There are two ongoing projects under the WHRAP Banner – WHRAP South Asia; currently implemented in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan and WHRAP South East Asia, which is implemented in Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos and Vietnam.

Learn more about WHRAP South Asia here 

Learn more about WHRAP South East Asia  here

International Conference of Population and Development + 15

The ICPD+15 monitoring and advocacy project spans 12 countries and 22 partners in Asia. The countries covered are: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The ICPD+15 project is part of ARROW’s commitment to developing a systematic and periodic evidence-based research and monitoring system to chart national and regional progress towards ICPD implementation. ARROW has been involved in periodic +5 and +10 NGO reviews of ICPD.

The 1994 ICPD Programme of Action called for the achievement by 2015 of universal access to a package of basic reproductive health services and for specific measures to foster human development, with particular attention to women and is an important internationally-agreed upon document to set benchmarks for sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Learn more about ICPD+15 here

MDG 5 - The Live & Living MDG 5 Shadow Report in Asia

The Live & Living MDG 5 Shadow Report is an interactive, web-based report on the progress of the Millennium Development Goals 3 & 5 in twelve countries in Asia. The countries covered include the South Asian countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan; the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines; the Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam as well as the East Asian country of China.

This report aims to present alternative information on the progress/ lack of progress on MDGs 3 & 5. Reporting is based on the traditional UN indicators and additional critical indicators around MDGs 3 & 5. This report aims to contrast and compare national numeric reporting with local evidence and research to show where the gaps are.

Learn more about MDG+5 here