Who We Are

CommonHealth

Constituted in 2006, CommonHealth is a rights-based, multi-state coalition of organization and individuals that advocates for increased access to sexual and reproductive health care and services to improve health conditions of women and marginalized communities. Within sexual and reproductive health and rights, CommonHealth concentrates its efforts largely on Maternal health and Safe abortion. The coalition draws its membership from diverse disciplines, thematic areas and geographies within the country.

Latest Update

Decriminalisation of Abortion

About

In May 2020, CREA and CommonHealth organised a series of 3 webinars on decriminalisation of abortion in India. The webinars interrogated the history of abortion laws in India, their current status, challenges in accessing abortion services and advocacy strategies as a way forward through an intersectional cross-movement lens. The series sought an in-depth discussion on the current political, social and legal landscape along with the implications of COVID-19, public system preparedness, the recent amendments to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and the legal pathways to ease women’s access to abortion services (beyond COVID-19 as well)

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English Infographics

Hindi Infographics

Building a Common Understanding

CommonHealth and CREA are excited to share the recording of the first webinar from our 3-part series on #decriminalisation of #abortion in India

#Webinar 1 one aims to build a common understanding – analyze historical context, understand what decriminalisation represents, understand the existing laws and learn from other movements including the sex workers’ rights movement & movement to decriminalize homosexuality in India.

Access to Abortion Services in the Context of Government Programmes, Pandemic/Health Crisis and Changes in the Abortion Laws

What does abortion access look like during a pandemic? What provisions are available for legal, safe and accessible services in the current legal and public health context of the country?

Our second webinar from the 3-part – CommonHealth – CREA webinar series on decriminalization of abortion in India The second #webinar discusses in detail the #COVID19 impact on abortion services, available provisions for legal and safe access and what could be the possible immediate, mid-term and long-term advocacy steps for safe abortion.

Aiming Towards Safe Abortion Access for Pregnant Persons in India: Post Pandemic and Beyond

hat are the pros and cons of existing law and proposed amendments to the abortion laws in the context of availability of safe, legal and rights based services?

What are the pros and cons of #decriminalisation of abortion in the context of availability of safe, legal and rights based services?

What could be our collective advocacy goals for safe abortion access/ rights?

The third and final part

International Safe Abortion day (September 2023)

MUMEEM conducting awareness rally on Safe Abortion to sensitize the community in Tendui village, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Grameen Punarnirman Santhan held sensitization meeting with ASHA and other health service providers of CHC Atraulia, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh

Quiz competition organized by YP Foundation with youth in Cotton University, Guwahati, Assam

Awareness meeting in the community conducted by SAHAYOG in Tangi village of Khordha district in Odisha

Poster competition held by Guru Angad Dev Sewa Society in Guru Angad School of Nursing in Ludhiana, Punjab

Awareness meeting held with community by ARPAN in Rupnagar, Punjab

Awareness meeting held by Akansha Seva Sadan with Front line workers in Marwan block of Muzaffarpur, Bihar

What We Do

CommonHealth

Influence Discourse

Provide thought leadership and influence the sexual and reproductive health discourse.

Mobilize advocates

Mobilize advocates to adopt a rights-based and gender equity perspective.

 

Dissemination

Disseminate relevant information among CommonHealth members and at various local, regional, national and international fora.

 

Evidence building

Disseminate relevant information among CommonHealth members and at various local, regional, national and international fora.

 

Creating common ground

Provide a forum for members to share their experiences in meetings and through social media. CommonHealth also provide opportunities for peer-support and learning through collaborative initiatives among members.

 

Capacity building and Mentoring

Organize capacity building and discourse influencing workshops with diverse actors such as policymakers, state officials, grassroots organisations, researchers, lawyers and healthcare providers. CommonHealth also support, facilitate and mentor advocacy projects at the grassroots level.

CommonHealth’s Achievements

Dead Women Talking, a study of maternal deaths carried out in different parts of the country, emerged as the most impactfull work as it increased visibility of maternal deaths – both nationally and globally. The study resulted in the incorporation of Maternal Death Reviews as one of the responsibilities of a number of district level health committees.

CommonHealth pioneered the “Creating Common Ground” agenda for activists working to prevent sex-selection and those working to promote access to safe abortion, in order to expand the constituency supporting the demand for safe abortion services.

The coalition contributed to the civil society shadow report for the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Universal Periodic Review, Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.

CommonHealth’s Advocates’ Guide for Rights-based Contraceptive Services will soon be converted into a tool to monitor the service provision of contraceptives in different settings.

Timely information is provided to members in the form of factsheets and through the CommonHealth listserv.

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