Mar 8, 2025: International Women’s Day
As I write this letter, I am deeply troubled by the increasing frequency of challenges to the rights and bodily autonomy of women and girls. Rights-based movements are constantly being attacked, and gender disparities continue to widen.
We live in a reality where our fundamental human rights with regard to our sexual and reproductive health are being eroded on a daily basis. Denying an individual, regardless of their identity, access to sexual and reproductive health care is a blatant violation of human rights. Marginalised groups, including women, girls, persons with diverse sexual orientation and gender identities, refugees and internally displaced women and girls, and those living with HIV or disabilities, are disproportionately affected due to social stigma and discrimination linked to their identity, where they were born, their socio-economic status, their age and sexuality.
Limited coverage of essential sexual and reproductive health care, the overwhelming burden of unpaid care and domestic responsibilities on women and girls, and the escalating impact of climate crises exacerbate the struggles faced by women and girls, and all have profound consequences for gender equality for all women and girls in Asia and the Pacific.
The implications of systemic unjust treatment of women and girls are stark. In Asia Pacific, an estimated 27% of women and girls aged 15–49 in Asia and 30% in Oceania have been subjected to physical or sexual intimate partner violence at least once in their lifetime.
The climate crisis is part of our reality. In 2024, we experienced severe flooding, earthquakes and typhoons – destabilising protection networks and cutting off lifesaving sexual and reproductive health care, leaving women and girls at greater risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, it is evident that progress has been slow and insufficient.
This letter serves as a pledge and a reaffirmation of my commitment and the commitment of IPPF ESEAOR to serve and fight #ForAllWomenandGirls’ access to sexual and reproductive health care and their rights.
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We pledge to accelerate action to achieve gender equality and continue to work towards the elimination of sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices as we continue to pursue sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice for all and a gender-equal world.
We will not stop pursuing universal access to sexual and reproductive health, whether it is for a pregnant person in Papua New Guinea accessing maternal healthcare or for an Indonesian transwoman’s right to contraceptive choice, or for a young girl to be provided an opportunity for comprehensive sexuality education in the Philippines.
We will not only hold the line, but we will push forward for our community partners and the most marginalised and most vulnerable in our communities for sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.
Governments, civil society, and the private sector need to work together now more than ever.
I take this opportunity to appeal to governments to invest in health care for their people, create self-sustaining funding mechanisms and develop resilient health and education systems, both locally and nationally, to achieve universal access to SRH care and comprehensive sexuality education for the well-being of all.
I also urge the private sector to step up and finance development aid and humanitarian assistance, as a key stakeholder of the global community in support of sustainable development.
We have a collective responsibility to create a world where we enjoy our fundamental rights, a right to bodily autonomy and agency, free from stigma or discrimination. Let's together build a world where we are free to make our own choices about our bodies.
Together, we will move away from a polarised world and co-create an equal future #ForAllWomenandGirls.
With hope,
Tomoko Fukuda
Regional Director
IPPF ESEAOR
This International Women’s Day, the International Planned Parenthood Federation East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) celebrates the resilience of all women and girls, especially the most marginalised and left-behind, who do their best in the situations they face and those who work tirelessly to advance sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice (SRHRJ).
IPPF Member Associations (MAs) are committed to a world where gender equality is the gold standard. Women and girls, in all their diversity, are at the heart of IPPF’s commitment as a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.
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