In June 2008, a group of long-time activists and researchers in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) came together in London, UK for a brief (1.5 day) meeting organized by Reproductive Health Matters (RHM). The subject of the meeting was the state of the sexual and reproductive health and rights field/movement. Participants1 in this meeting discussed issues related to the following questions:
● How can we characterize the sexual and reproductive health and rights field today, and the shifting power and influence in it, including the UN agencies, World Bank, govern ments and public health systems, private (profit and non-profit) health sector, global health initiatives, ‘corporate’/international NGOs, other NGOs and civil society and feminist groups?
● Is a collective advocates’ voice needed in the SRHR field today, given the extent of mainstreaming of our issues and given the huge and growing number of people involved in the work nationally and internationally?
● If yes, in what priority areas is that voice required? If no, are there other reasons we wish to get together?
● Do we want to organize to make this happen? If yes, how and with whom?
● What kind of international conferences does the sexual and reproductive health and rights field need? What kind are we having?
