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YKP: Fighting for Women's Right to Health from Capital to Countryside
In Indonesia, IWHC supports the Jakarta-based Women's Health Foundation (Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan, or YKP), which has a long history of work with the government, health workers, and the public to promote women's health and rights.
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Young people attending YKP's sexuality
education program in Kampar district. |
With each national election, YKP educates new political leaders and decision makers about the importance of a health law that would guarantee women access to reproductive health services, including safe abortion. This includes recent work with the Ullama (high-level religious council) to pass a fatwa (legal opinion or ruling issued by a religious leader) at the national level allowing abortion within the first 40 days after a missed period. While this ruling fell short of YKP's ultimate goal, it represents an important first step.
For a national-level reproductive health law to be effective, it will need to be implemented successfully at the district level, where budgeting for health is done. YKP has initiated pilot projects in three districts to ensure that reproductive health services will receive priority attention. Key efforts include:
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Midwives in YKP's training
program, also in Kampar district. |
teaching midwives and trained birth attendants, or dukunds, to provide emergency obstetric care
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educating local government leaders, legislators, and legal experts
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setting numerical targets for a reduction in the maternal mortality rate and the attendance of midwives at a minimum of 90 percent of births.
In addition, YKP continues work in the community to train peer educators and, increasingly, provide information to young people. YKP's work has made important progress toward building a strong, diverse base of support for women's health and rights in Indonesia.
Page last updated 9/5/07.
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