Event Date: March 2, 2023 - 11:00am to 12:30pm EST
Location: Webinar

Presented by CIPS and Fòs Feminista

How are Ukrainian refugees in Poland navigating the restrictive abortion laws and high risks of violence and exploitation? What have been the consequences of the disappearance of birth control for Venezuelan women and their ability to control their lives? How are Haitian communities dealing with sexual and gender-based violence? Whether it is due to the war in Ukraine, the deep economic and social turmoil in Venezuela, or the violent collapse in Haiti, humanitarian crises deepen and aggregate inequities for women, girls and marginalized communities. As many migrate to bordering countries in search of safety and sanctuary for their families, the transnational nature of these humanitarian crises becomes clear. Join us as we discuss these and other questions with local feminist organizations who work as critical first responders to deliver life-saving sexual and reproductive health services.

The webinar will be in Spanish, English and French. Professional interpretation will be provided.

Panelists:

Belmar Franceschi Castellano is the Executive Director of PLAFAM in Venezuela. (La Asociacion Civil de Planificacion Familiar). Prior to joining PLAFAM, she held positions with various United Nations entities including UNAIDS, UNIFEM, UNFPA as well as with Simon Bolivar University. With more than 20 years of experience in sexual and reproductive rights with a focus on gender, group dynamics and community building Belmar has served PLAFAM in several capacities ranging from Youth Center and Educational Coordinator to Clinic Coordinator to General Program Manager. As Executive Director she leads a multidisciplinary team in strategies for effective research, education, and community intervention as well as in providing medical services and serves as an important advocate in public policy spaces. Belmar has an undergraduate degree in Social Work from the Central University of Venezuela as well as graduate degrees from the Simon Bolivar University, the Catholic University of Andres Bello and the Central University of Venezuela. She has been recognized as a non-medical member of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Society of Venezuela.

Florence Jean Louis Vorbe is the Executive Director at PROFAMIL, where she provides strategic guidance to the team in order to conceive and apply strategies to offer clients quality sexual and reproductive health services in a continuous and durable way, and to accompany women and girls in the path to realize their reproductive rights. She holds Diplomas in Medical sciences  (Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico City) as well as a master in community health, rural development and natural resources management (El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chiapas). Over many years, Dr Jean-Louis has focused on HIV and AIDS, global health, human rights, health systems strengthening, and brought strong gender dimensions to community health programs. Before PROFAMIL, she worked for 10 years in FOKOZE as Director of Human Development, where she analysed and studied the best alternatives in order to offer to all Fonkoze clients quality social services; she also worked as a deputy director in PADESS, a 5-years Canadian initiative which helped to regulate and streamline the health service delivery provided by the government, private sector, and religious communities in Haiti; and also with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Red Cross and as technical director in an association of local NGOs specialized in health.

Marta Bibi Żbikowska is the office coordinator, translator and assistant to the president of Feminoteka. She has joined the foundation in April, when the team grew rapidly as a result of the Ukrainian War Response. She is an activist based in Warsaw. Before joining Feminoteka she was one of the founders and leaders of Noise For Refugees initiative – a series of concerts and art events, from which all proceeds supported the Syrian refugee crisis. She used to work as a queer news editor and journalist, did volunteering and as a musician, she uses her voice to talk openly about sexism and abuse, social inequities and discrimination.

Moderator:

Susana Medina Salas Co-director of the Sustainable Ecosystems Unit and Intersectional Approaches at Fòs Feminista. Susana has more than 20 years of experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health and human rights throughout Latin America. She has specialized in psychosocial interventions and has worked in the psychological counseling of women who suffer sexual and gender-based violence.

Introduction:

Anna Bogic, PhD, CIPS Coordinator and researcher in the areas of women’s reproductive health, sexual violence in wartime, gender and nationalism, and translation studies.