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Women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic response, particularly with respect to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and access to gender-based violence (GBV) services. UNFPA’s Asia and the Pacific Regional Office, in partnership with APDA, reviewed SRHR and GBV laws, policies and implementation practices during the pandemic response in seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region, namely Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and the Philippines. UNFPA and APDA documented promising practices for increasing access to essential SRHR and GBV services during the COVID-19 pandemic response. This qualitative review employed primary data collection through remote key informant interviews and focus group discussions (60 interviews, with 37 females and 23 males), and secondary data collection through desk review, with triangulation.

 The study has focused on four thematic areas, namely maternal health, family planning and modern contraception; HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, testing and treatment; and the GBV response. The analysis has focused on international normative guidance in each thematic area regarding the classification of essential services, challenges in accessing services and the continuity of service provision during the pandemic, and the strategies employed in the countries studied to adapt to the COVID-19 context.

To download the document, click the linked file below.