ICRH launches Thematic Network for SRHR policy research and advice

ICRH is pleased to announce the approval by the Ghent University Board of the “Academic Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policy”. This network - one of the first three International Thematic Networks at Ghent University - aims to become a leading group for SRHR policy research and advice, having a profound impact on policies at different levels.

 

Last September, 193 governments formally approved a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals; maternal and child health remain essential topics in this new framework, and also other aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) play important roles in some -if not all- of the Goals.  In the light of this, governments across the world will be required to develop and implement new policies in the coming years in order to achieve the targets set for these goals.  The development of these new policies necessitates an evidence base to ensure their adequacy and effectiveness. Also, the success of their implementation is closely linked to reliable follow-up and monitoring by professionals with the required training and expertise. Finally, regular exchange of knowledge and sharing of experiences between different types of stakeholders and different countries can contribute to improving existing approaches and policies.

 

In light of the above, ICRH responded to a recent call by Ghent University for the creation of International Thematic Networks and proposed to set up an Academic Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy. On January 18th, we were informed that our proposal had been approved.

 

The proposed activities include:

    The writing of joint research proposals on various SRHR challenges;
    The development of a free, online module on SRHR policy;
    The start-up of an annual short course on SRHR policy;
    The organization of workshops on specific and actual SRHR topics;
    The publication of policy briefs addressing a specific SRHR item.

 

Finally, the network will promote the mobility of senior staff with the purpose of knowledge exchange and contributing to partners’ teaching and research activities.

 

The network will be coordinated by Olivier Degomme and will include several of Ghent University’s experts in field related to SRHR: Piet Bracke, Eva Brems, Ann Buysse, Alexis Dewaele, Tom Claes, Ines Keygnaert, Els Leye, Kristien Michielsen, Marleen Temmerman, An-Sofie Van Parys and Wei-Hong Zhang. In addition to Ghent University staff, the network’s partners include:

Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; University of Cuenca, Ecuador; University Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique; University of St. Andrews, UK; Edge Hill University, UK; Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Norway; Tsinghua University, China; University of Nairobi, Kenya; Karolinska Institutet (KI), Sweden; Lund University, Sweden;  National Research Institute for Family Planning (NRIFP), China; Peking University, China; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA; Burnet Institute, Australia; University of Potsdam, Germany; Coventry University, UK; Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.