INTRODUCTION

Food sovereignty¹, including food and nutrition security², along with sexual and reproductive health and rights³ are fundamental development issues, which until today remain a challenge across the region.

Based on the 2014 UNDP Human Development Report, there are 2.2 billion people (more than 15 percent) living in multidimensional poverty⁴ across the globe who are more likely to be femaleheaded households. Approximately 80 percent of the global population also lack comprehensive social protection, 12 percent (or 842 million) suffer from chronic hunger, and nearly half of workers (more than 1.5 billion) are in informal or precarious employment.⁵ The same report shows that Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest multidimensional poverty headcount with 59.6 percent, followed by South Asia (53.4%), Arab States (15.5%), Latin America and the Caribbean (6.7%), and East Asia and the Pacific (6.4%). Poverty levels are consistently higher in rural areas across the regions; the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) 2014 shows that 85 percent of the MPI poor live in rural areas with Somalia having the highest proportion of MPI poor people (96.9%).⁶

It should be noted, however, that there are regional and subnational disparities in poverty as the experiences of ‘poor’ people are not necessarily the same in all regions or countries. Aside from the geographical component, there are also other factors that likely contribute to multidimensional poverty such as the presence of older and younger people, access to economic and productive resources, and the impact of climate change and natural disasters, among others. The figures above complement the latest Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates of 805.3 million people who are chronically undernourished in 2012–2014, with Asia remaining to be the most populous region in the world where two-thirds of the world's hungry live and with the highest number of undernourished people (525.6 million).⁷ The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014 recognises the global efforts in achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) hunger target but not the World Food Summit (WFS) target of halving the number of undernourished people by 2015. Specifically, progress in addressing undernourishment is slow in Southern Asia but is worse in Western Asia where prevalence of undernourishment increased from 1990– 92 to 2012–14.⁸

Sixty percent of the world's undernourished are women and girls.⁹ The Gender Equality and Food Security Report (2013) explicitly notes that “persistent gender inequalities that prevail in the Asia-Pacific region constrain women's potential for contributing more effectively to agriculture, rural development, food and nutrition security, which undermine the region's goal of long-term food security.”¹⁰ The State of Food and Agriculture 2010–2011 reveals that closing the gender gap in terms of access to productive resources such as land, livestock, credit, and technology, among others, can increase the yields on their farm by 20 to 30 percent, and can raise the total agricultural output in developing countries by 2.5 percent. These could reduce the number of hungry people in the world by 12 to 17 percent.¹¹

The critical role of women in food production and access to adequate food and nutrition, especially in the rural areas across Asia and the Pacific, continues to be undervalued and thus, in most cases, they lack access to resources and opportunities, including access to land and property, education, healthcare, and sexual and reproductive health services. Hence, the gender dimension of poverty and its interlinkages with food and nutrition security and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) cannot be dismissed.

Poverty is one crucial factor that denies women's access to food, credit, economy, education, land ownership, and other productive resources. Consequently, their lack of access to adequate food and nutrition has a severe impact on their health and wellbeing, and especially on their reproductive health which could “result to anaemia among pregnant and lactating women; mother's lack of nourishment also results in babies of low birth weight and the same cycle is then repeated among girls in the next generation.”¹² Being denied of these basic human rights, coupled with cultural norms and structural barriers, exacerbate women's experience of multiple discriminations in education, employment, marriage, access to productive resources, as well as their exercise of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Many women still do not enjoy equal access to land ownership and other productive resources which limits their decision-making power and increases their economic and financial dependency to their husbands. This lack of decision-making power increases the risk of women's exposure to sexual violence and their ability to decide and control their sexual and reproductive lives.

There is a strong call to strengthen the SRHR movement in challenging the forces of neoliberal globalisation which are the root causes of poverty, hunger, and inequalities. Most importantly, women's practical and strategic gender needs must always be used in framing the agenda on food security, food sovereignty, and SRHR.13 A responsive legal and policy framework that positively shapes the economic and social conditions is also necessary to reinforce availability and accessibility of health services and programmes.¹⁴

This key resources list is useful for organisations and individuals working on the multi-faceted issues of poverty, food sovereignty, food security, gender equality and women's empowerment, and SRHR. This is especially valuable for those who are trying to establish or strengthen the linkages between food security, gender, and SRHR. It could also be a significant tool for governments and policymakers in developing food security strategies and social protection programmes by taking into consideration the gender perspective and SRHR issues. The list is organised into five sections: (1) gender and food security, (2) food security and nutrition, (3) food security and its impact on development, (4) SRHR, and (5) SRHR and food security.

The first set reviews materials that show the connection between gender equality and food security. It highlights the power and control in the food system where women's contributions remained invisible. It also features some global and regional studies on poverty and hunger reduction; the gender issues in food security, agriculture, and rural development; and the global financial system that aggravates poverty and gender inequalities. There are also a number of modules and sourcebooks which call to integrate gender in food security, livelihood, and poverty reduction policies and programmes.

The second set of resources presents studies related to gender issues in food security and nutrition. It includes regional and country assessment reports, workshop proceedings, and policy research briefs of international development agencies working in the field of food security, agriculture, and nutrition.

The third set looks into the linkage of poverty and food security to other development issues such as climate change, economic development, environmental sustainability, agricultural development, population growth, and access to land rights and other productive resources. Resources include framework document on climate change and food security, regional reports on food security and poverty, research reports, and policy briefs.

The fourth set focuses on SRHR as an integral part to development. It includes resources related to the trends of maternal mortality, adolescent pregnancy, SRHR of young people, universal access to SRH services, and the regional status on the realisation of SRHR.

Finally, the last set provides the list of materials that link food security and SRHR. There were quite a number of organisations that produce researches and articles on gender, poverty, and food security but only a handful are working on the interlinkages between food security and SRHR. Most of the resources listed here are proceedings reports, paper presentations, and articles produced and supported by ARROW. Note as well that issues discussed in each section often overlap with other sections because they are mutually connected.

This key resources list complements the ARROW for Change Bulletin Vol. 20 No. 1 2014 on “Linking Poverty, Food Sovereignty and Security, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.” Articles from this bulletin are also included in the resources list.

GENDER AND FOOD SECURITY

Agarwal, B. (2011). Food Crises and Gender Inequality. DESA Working Paper No. 107. New York: UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2011/wp107_2011.pdf

The paper examines the nature of the current food crises and the impact of climate change on food availability; the importance of women as food producers, consumers, and home managers; and the barriers and constraints faced by women farmers. It also demonstrates bridging the productivity differentials between men and women farmers by increasing agricultural productivity and improving women's access to food.

Asian Development Bank. (2013). Gender Equality and Food Security-Women's Empowerment as a Tool against Hunger. Mandaluyong: ADB. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ar259e/ar259e.pdf

The report establishes the connection between gender equality and food security in Asia and the Pacific. It looks into the relationship between genderbased discrimination and the different channels that affect access to food of households and individuals. For instance, one's access to education is a critical asset to have access to employment and gain economic autonomy and decisionmaking power in the family. The report also emphasises the need for improving women's access to land, credit, and other related resources to food production, decent employment, and social protection. More importantly, it calls for a transformative and integrated approach for both gender equality strategies and food security strategies.

Balakrishnan, R. & Fairbairn-Dunlop, P. (2005). Rural Women and Food Security in Asia and the Pacific: Prospects and Paradoxes. Bangkok: Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/af348e/af348eoo.htm

This report examines the situation of rural women in the Asia-Pacific region with South Asia having low human development indicators and gender inequality. Rural women are confronted with issues of poverty, illiteracy, high health risks, and inadequate access to productive resources, health and sanitation services, and denial of market access. It also provides a regional overview of rural women's participation in economic activity, particularly in agriculture and household production. It likewise presents the regional trends that affect the situation of rural women, such as global economic integration, demographic shifts and population dynamics, HIV and AIDs, and civil conflicts, among others.

Charman, A.J.E. (2008). Empowering Women Through Livelihoods Oriented Agricultural Service Provision: A Consideration of Evidence from Southern Africa. Wider Research Paper Series 2008/1. Helsinki: United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research. Retrieved from http://www.wider.unu.edu/publications/working-papers/research-papers/2008/en_GB/rp2008-01/

The article looks at the impact of livelihood-oriented agricultural service provision for smallholder farmers on gender relationships and food security. It provides an overview of gender in smallholder farming systems where gender relationships strongly influence farming decisions. It identifies three aspects of changing gender relations in Southern African rural communities: (1) the breakdown of traditional gender roles, (2) the empowerment of women as autonomous actors in the public realm through acquisition of equal legal status and rights, and (3) the growing proportion of single-parent (women) households.

Durano, M. (2012, July). Politicise CEDAW Article 14(a): Rural Women and the Triple Crisis. DAWN Informs, 9–10. Manila: Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN). Retrieved from http://www.dawnnet.org/feminist-resources/sites/default/files/articles/dawn_informs.pdf

The article points out governments' neglect in agricultural development due to a bias on urbanisation. It challenges government officials and policymakers to implement states' commitments in Article 14 of CEDAW by ensuring rural women's right to participate in agricultural development, as well as have access to social security, finance, assets, and other services. It likewise shares the burden of care that rural women experience as they struggle to fulfill their social expectations and negotiate for their access to these services which are instrumental not only for their growth and wellbeing but for the overall development of a country as well.

Floro, M.S. & Swain, R.B. (2013). Food Security, Gender and Occupational Choice among Urban Low-Income Households. World Development, Volume 42, 89–99. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X12002185

The paper examines the relationship between household food security or household vulnerability to food shortage, gender roles, and occupational choice among self-employed workers in urban poor areas. It uses a multi-country sample data of women and men in urban slum communities in Bolivia, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Thailand. The findings show how informal workers are exposed to poor and hazardous conditions such as their lack of access to formal safety nets, food assistance programmes, pensions, and health insurance. However, it significantly indicates the strategic role of self-employed women in vulnerable households who are more engaged in employing longer-term strategies to improve their access to food.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2010). Gender Dimensions of Agricultural and Rural Employment: Differentiated Pathways Out of Poverty-Status, Trends and Gaps. Rome: FAO, IFAD, ILO. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1638e/i1638e.pdf

This publication gives an overview of issues related to gender equality and rural employment for poverty reduction. It identifies appropriate policy responses and gender-based constraints to the achievement of decent work for all. The report also summarises the crucial role gender dimensions play in forming appropriate policies to promote genderequitable rural employment and combat rural poverty. It explains the extent and consequences of gender inequality and the relevant global issues in rural employment and gender.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2010). UN Joint Programmes. Integrating Gender Issues in Food Security, Agriculture and Rural Development. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1914e/i1914e.pdf

This publication provides practical guidelines to incorporate gender in the UN Joint Programmes for food security, agriculture, and rural development. It includes checklists to mainstream gender in areas of cross-cutting importance for agriculture and rural development, such as on food and nutrition security, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, crops, natural resources, climate change, emergencies, value chains, and employment and livelihoods.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2011). The State of Food and Agriculture 2010–11: Women in Agriculture-Closing the Gender Gap for Development. Italy: FAO. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i2050e/i2050e.pdf

This report highlights the contributions of women in agricultural and rural enterprises, as well as the challenges they face as women. It demonstrates how the gender gap could limit women's access in agricultural productivity, economic development and human wellbeing, and the possible interventions to reduce this gender gap. It recommends practical steps to national governments and the international community in promoting agricultural development through empowering women.

Harper, S., Zeller, D., Hauzer, M., Pauly, D., & Sumaila, U.R. (2013). Women and Fisheries: Contribution to Food Security and Local Economies. Marine Policy, Volume 39, 56–63. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/Pii/S0308597X12002175

The study provides a quantitative assessment of women's involvement in fisheries in the Pacific region. It underscores the importance of recognising women's contribution in fisheries by considering them in management and in economic and policy decisions. It also recommends providing better utilisation of women's ecological knowledge in fisheries management and inclusion of women's indirect inputs (including unpaid work) to the economy, among others.

Kiptot, E., Franzel, S., & Degrande, A. (2014, February). Gender, Agroforestry and Food Security in Africa. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Volume 6,104–109. Retrieved from http://ac.els-cdn.com/S1877343513001632/1-S2.0-S1877343513001632-main.pdf?_tid=334b92ea-49c8-11e4-a714-00000aacb35d&acdnat=1412208685_9fb63ced7f6ae2dd3d0bd0c3a8f4deab

Using a gender perspective in agroforestry's contribution to food security, the paper examines women's and men's involvement in the management, utilisation, and marketing of agroforestry products. It highlights the substantial contribution of women to food security which are often hindered by cultural norms and lack of resources. Thus, the study recommends certain policies and technological and institutional interventions that will benefit and enhance women's contribution to food security.

Mathur, A. (2011). Women and Food Security: A Comparison of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Asia Security Initiative Policy Series Working Paper No. 12. Singapore: RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies. Retrieved from http://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/rsis-pubs/NTS/resources/research_papers/MacArthur_Working_Paper_Arpita.pdf

The paper provides a comprehensive link between women's vulnerability as a social group and their level of food security by comparing the cases of women of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It clearly defines food security as more than just the quantity but also having access to and utilisation of food. It stresses that women are vulnerable to food security because of their lack of access, availability, and utilisation of food which can be attributed to social, cultural, and economic factors.

Nazli, H. & Hamid, S. (1999). Concerns of Food Security, Role of Gender, and Intra-household Dynamics in Pakistan. Research Report of Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Volume 3, Issue 175,1–35. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics. Retrieved from http://www.pide.org.pk/Research/Report175.pdf

The study looks at the intra-household dynamics and its relationship with gender and food security in Pakistan. It highlights the subordinated status of women in Pakistan and the gender bias in intrahousehold resource allocation and food security that contributes to the widening of gender disparity in the country.

Patel, R.C. (2012). Food Sovereignty: Power, Gender and the Right to Food. PLoS Med 9(6) e1001223. DOI:10.1371/ journal.pmed.1001223. Retrieved from http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001223;jsessionid=B3E96C8EB9C8EC441423EACDC629D616

The article shows the link between gender and food by looking at power and control in the food system where women remained invisible and disempowered in food production, consumption, and distribution. It explains the gendered consequences of the inequitable distribution of power and power relations at the household level and the impact of global economy.

Quisumbing, A., Meinzen-Dick, R., & Bassett, L. (2008). Helping Women Respond to the Global Food Price Crisis. IFRI Policy Brief 7. Washington, D.C.: International Food Policy Research Institute. Retrieved from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pubs/bp/bp007.pdf

The article provides a snapshot of the gender implications of the food price crisis with pregnant and lactating mothers as among the groups considered most at risk for food insecurity and poor nutrition. It also recommends genderappropriate responses to the crisis through emergency assistance and social protection, assistance to female farmers, and credit and market-related services.

Ramachandran, N. (2006, November). Women and Food Security in South Asia, Current Issues and Emerging Concerns. Research Paper No. 2006/131. World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER). Retrieved from http://www.wider.unu.edu/stc/repec/pdfs/rp2006/rp2006-131.pdf

The article reviews the relationship between women and food security in South Asia by highlighting the issues on food security, nutrition, and health in the region. It discusses gender disparities in food security within the households as well as in livelihood opportunities. It also looks into the inter-generational consequences of unequal access to food and healthcare.

Randiramaro, Z. (2012, July). Financialisation, Food Security and Women's Rights: An African Perspective. DAWN Informs, 15–16. Manila: Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN). Retrieved from http://www.dawnnet.org/feminist-resources/sites/default/files/articles/dawn_informs.pdf

This article highlights financialisation as a key feature of the 21st century capitalist system. It indicates that the global financial system seems to exacerbate the vulnerabilities and multiple disadvantages of women. It emphasises three critical points: (1) recognition that gender inequalities in access to productive resources continue to prevail and that prolonged food crises perpetuated gender inequalities in access to food, (2) women are mostly providers of labour in the agricultural production system including unpaid family labour; and (3) hunger and food insecurity are often seen by policymakers as issues of demand and supply and therefore ignore other structural issues associated with it, such as gender inequalities, entitlements, power relations, and governance.

Taguiwalo, J., et al. (2006). Women and Food Sovereignty Kit. Chiang Mai: Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD). Retrieved from http://apwld.org/women-and-food-sovereignty-kit/

The kit explains the basic principles of food sovereignty and rights of women over food production, consumption, and trade. It is a training manual divided into four modules starting with understanding the personal conditions and experiences of poor rural women. It also points out the political and economic conditions which created certain classes in society where the dominant classes yield power over the poor oppressed working class. It likewise explains the use of patriarchal norms in assisting the dominant capitalist systems of production. The kit traces the roots of women's resistance against exploitation and oppression and the stories of struggles of ordinary women against colonial powers and the local elites.

Tripathi, R., et al. (2012). What Works for Women: Proven Approaches for Empowering Women Smallholders and Achieving Food Security. London: ActionAid, Care, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Find Your Feet, Oxfam, Practical Action, Save the Children, and Self Help Africa. Retrieved from http://www.careclimatechange.org/files/reports/What_Works_for_Women.pdf

This briefing shares the lessons and experiences of organisations as they promote gender equality and work with women smallholders and rural women. It recognises the labour constraints that rural women face along with their unpaid care work responsibilities and lack of adequate rural infrastructure. It looks at how poverty and hunger can extremely affect women from the most marginalised and socially excluded communities as they lack access to basic services and entitlements. It likewise provides recommendations to close the gender gap in agriculture, including addressing discrimination in land ownership and tenure, integrating gender dimensions in nutrition and agricultural policies and research, and ensuring that disaster risk reduction at all levels addresses the different vulnerabilities and risks faced by women and men, among others.

United Nations Development Programme. (2012). Gender, Agriculture and Food Security. New York: United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved from http://www.gender-climate.org/Content/Docs/Publications/UNDP_Training-Module-Gender-Agriculture-and-Food-Security.pdf

This publication is a training module that provides basic information and learning tools to understand and advocate for the integration of gender issues in agriculture and food security policies at the regional, national, and community levels. It looks at the different roles of men and women in agriculture and food security in Africa; the gender dimensions of climate change on agricultural production and food and nutritional security; and the need for integrating gender perspectives into agricultural and food security policies. The modules include sessions on understanding the linkages among gender, climate change, agriculture, and food security; the gender gaps in the agricultural sector that increase women's vulnerabilities to food insecurity and agricultural development; and how to identify appropriate policy responses to address gender gaps in agriculture and food security.

World Bank. (2009). Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook. Washington: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and The World Bank. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGENAGRLIVSOUBOOK/Resources/CompleteBook.pdf

The sourcebook provides a conceptual framework for the complexities and synergies of gender equality, livelihood, food security, and poverty reduction. It has sixteen modules that discuss issues related to the linkage between gender and food security; good governance visà-vis gender and agricultural livelihoods; gender and rural finance; gender issues in land policy and agricultural labour and markets; and gender mainstreaming in agricultural water management, among others.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2010). Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals—Module on Nutrition. Geneva: WHO. Retrieved from http://www.wpro.who.int/publications/docs/Nutritionmodule2.pdf

This module stresses the importance of good nutrition as a key component of a healthy and active life for men and women, girls and boys. It is designed for awareness raising and skills building of health professionals on poverty and gender concerns in the field of nutrition. The module discusses four important factors: (1) the key factors in nutrition including undernutrition across the lifecycle, food security, and how nutrition status is measured; (2) the links between poverty, gender, and nutrition; (3) why it is important for health professionals to address poverty and gender concerns in nutrition; and (4) strategies in addressing poverty and gender in nutrition programmes through policy, cross-sectoral action, and health sector response.

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

Ajani, O.I.Y. (2008). Gender Dimensions of Agriculture, Poverty, Nutrition, and Food Security in Nigeria. Nigeria Strategy Support Program Brief No. 5. Abuja: International Food Policy Research Institute. Retrieved from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/nsspbrief05.pdf

This material provides a gender analysis of poverty, nutrition, and food security. It identifies the critical gender dimensions of Nigerian agriculture such as inequality in decision-making and access to capital assets, women's participation in food production and agricultural labour utilisation, and women's lack of access to technology for food production. It also gives recommendations to address the gaps; this includes provision for women's access to capital assets and agricultural technologies as well as full participation in decision-making.

Ashmad, A. (2012). Gender Rapid Assessment Report: Gender Issues in Food and Nutrition Security in Nusa Tenggara Timur Province. Indonesia: World Food Programme. Retrieved from http://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/WFP-Gender%20Rapid%20Assesment.pdf

This gender rapid assessment report presents the gender issues related to food security and nutrition in Nusa Tenggara Timur Province, as well as the government interventions to address those issues. It identifies three main forms of gender inequality practices in food security: (1) prioritising men when it comes to food access and distribution within the household, (2) women's double burden in earning money and doing all the household work, and (3) nutrition of pregnant and lactating mother is not a priority.

Bellows, A.C., et al. (2014). Right to Food and Nutrition Watch 2014: Ten Years of the Right to Food GuidelinesGains, Concerns and Struggles. Germany: Bread for the World, FIAN International & Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation. Retrieved from http://www.rtfn-watch.org/

The Watch 2014 talks about key policy processes and emphasises the increasing influence of corporations in international food and nutrition governance as a growing challenge in the global struggle for the right to adequate food.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (2014). Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition in the Post-2015 Framework. Discussion Paper. USA: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Retrieved from https://docs.gatesfoundation.org/documents/Post%202015%20Food%20Security%20Discussion%20Paper.pdf

The discussion paper highlights MDGs as the central framework that guides global development efforts geared towards addressing sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutrition issues. It provides the rationale for a comprehensive approach to the inclusion of these areas within the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Framework. It likewise presents the possible targets and indicators to achieve sustainable agriculture, food, and nutrition security goal.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2013). The State of Food and Agriculture: Food Systems for Better Nutrition. Rome: FAO. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/13300e/13300e.pdf

This report reviews the trends in malnutrition and illustrates the transformation of food systems worldwide as accompanied by dramatic changes in nutritional status. It also looks into the opportunities to enhance nutrition in agricultural production by having nutrition-sensitive interventions as well as gender sensitive interventions to improve nutritional outcomes. Gender sensitive interventions include recognising women's role in nutrition through agricultural production, food provision and childcare, and promoting gender equality through the food system.

FAO. (2014). The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014: Strengthening the Enabling Environment for Food Security and Nutrition. Rome: FAO, IFAD, and WFP. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/2ae5ab78-c75c-4203-a727-98a15056a3a1/i4030e.pdf

The report shows the global progress in hunger reduction which is uneven among regions and countries. It also indicates Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia as having the least progress in improving food security. Guided by the four dimensions of an enabling environment—policies, programmes, and legal frameworks; mobilsation of human and financial resources; coordination mechanisms and partnerships; and evidence-based decision-making—the report also examines how individual countries such as Bolivia, Brazil, Haiti, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi, and Yemen address their food security and nutrition concerns. It highlights the complex interplay of factors such as civil unrest, conflict, natural disasters, extreme weather events, and economic crises that exacerbate poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition.

FAO, WFP, & IFAD. (2012). The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012. Rome: FAO. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/docrep/016/13027e/13027e.pdf

The report provides estimates of undernourished people from 1990 to 2012 where the number of undernourished people remains high with majority coming from developing countries. It underscores the importance of economic growth in overcoming poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Recognising the issues of poor rural infrastructure and access to livelihoods of smallholder-based agriculture, the report encourages the need to invest in smallholder-centered agricultural growth as well as working towards an improved policy and governance management to protect the environment and reduce hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (2012). Gender in Emergency Food Security, Livelihoods and Nutrition in Somalia. Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit. Retrieved from http://www.fsnau.org/Gender-Report-Emergency-Food-Security-Livelihoods-and-Nutrition_1%20(3).pdf

The report is a compendium of existing information on traditional and changing gender roles within pastoral, agro-pastoral, riverine, urban, and IDP households and communities in Somaliland, Puntland, and South Central. It is intended to map out the impact of shifting gender roles and responsibilities in food security, livelihoods, and nutrition as well as the impact of gender relations on the wellbeing of all household and community members. It has a specific section on gender in food security and nutrition that specifically points out the critical role of women in agriculture and agro-pastoral systems while not having access to land security on which they work.

Garcia, Z. (2006). Agriculture, Trade Negotiations and Gender. Rome: FAO. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/ fao/009/a0493e/a0493e.pdf

The paper discusses the implications of agricultural trade expansion and liberalisation to gender inequalities that exist in the agricultural and rural sector. It provides a brief review of women's contribution to agriculture and an analysis on the impact of the agricultural trade development to agricultural work, land use, and women's access to productive resources. It also outlines multilateral trade agreements on agriculture and commodities and assesses the impact of agricultural trade to gender disparities.

Global Network for the Right to Food and Nutrition. (2014, October). 10 Years of the Right to Adequate Food Guidelines: Progress, Obstacles and the Way Ahead. Civil Society Synthesis Paper for the 41^st Session of the UN Committee on World Food Security. Rome: FAO. Retrieved from http://www.fian.org/fileadmin/media/publications/10yearGuidelines_CivilSociety_SynthesisPaper_en_01.pdf

This synthesis paper summarises the events and processes that shaped the global governance of food systems, as well as the struggles and efforts of civil society movements and organisations for the human right to adequate food and nutrition. It highlights the progress made for the past 10 years as well as the challenges and obstacles in the achievement of the right to food and nutrition. It likewise offers recommendations and seeks commitments from governments, regional bodies, international organisations, civil society, and social movements to ensure the full realisation of the right to adequate food and nutrition for all.

Herre, R., et al. (2014, February). G8 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa: A Critical Analysis from a Human Rights Perspective. Poland & FDCL: FIAN International and FIAN Germany. Retrieved from http://www.fian.org/fileadmin/media/publications/2014_G8NewAlliance_screen.pdf

This document provides a summary of the G8 New Alliance's design and approach towards the right to adequate food and nutrition using a human rights perspective. It presents the provisions in the Cooperation Framework focusing on five thematic areas for the enjoyment of this right: (1) seeds and agricultural inputs, (2) land, (3) social protection, (4) income, and (5) nutrition.

Hollema, S.R., et al. (2013). Nepal Thematic Report on Food Security and Nutrition. National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal, Central Bureau of Statistics, World Food Program, World Bank, UNICEF. Retrieved from http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp256518.pdf

The report provides updates and analysis on the status of food security and nutrition in Nepal over the past 15 years. It highlights significant socioeconomic changes that alter Nepal's national food security and nutrition landscape such as the impact of remittances and urbanisation in poverty reduction, increasing dependency on purchased food rather than self-production, increasing proportion of female-headed households, price increases, and prevalence of chronic undernutrition.

Institute of Development Studies. (2014, April). Gender Inequality and Maternal and Child Nutrition in Northern Nigeria. ORIE Research Summary Nutrition Research in Northern Nigeria, Issue 5. Retrieved from http://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/3871/ORIE_RSummary%235_Gender_2%200_final.pdf?sequence=i

The research provides an overview of how gender inequality impacts maternal and child nutrition in Northern Nigeria. It looks into the manifestations of gender inequality from domestic gender roles and relations, and access to education and income-earning activities, maternal health services and maternal mortality, to women's political representation and participation. It also enumerates the consequences of gender inequality for maternal and child nutrition including the biological consequences on their children's health of poor maternal nutrition, the social effects of gender inequality, and low female status.

Jenderedjian, A., et al. (2012, April 28). Workshop Report: Gender Nutrition and the Right to Adequate Food. Congress World Nutrition Rio 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Retrieved from http://www.fian.be/IMG/pdf/gender_nutrition_and_the_right_to_adequate_food.pdf

The core of the workshop focuses on why gender has not been addressed in the right to adequate food planning and advocacy where participants and discussants pointed out the legal and institutional human rights framework that should provide the basis for an individual's right to adequate food. The report presents the impact of gender and women's role in health and nutrition. It also illustrates case studies on women and agro-ecology and the impacts of ready-to-use foods on nutrition.

Mary Robinson Foundation Climate Justice. (2012, November). The Gender Dimensions of Food and Nutrition Security in the Context of Climate Change in Uganda. Policy Brief. Dublin: Mary Robinson Foundation Climate Justice. Retrieved from http://www.mrfcj.org/pdf/2012-11-27-Uganda-Policy-Document.pdf

This policy brief provides the connection between gender, climate change, and food and nutrition security. It is based on interviews and focus group discussions with over 300 people in eight communities. It discusses impact of climate change on food and nutrition security and its differential impacts to women and men. It also features case studies of various organisations' initiatives on food and nutrition security.

Sunderland, T., et al. (2013). Food Security and Nutrition: The Role of Forests. Bogor, Barat: Center for International Forestry Research. Retrieved from http://www.cifor.org/publications/pdf_files/WPapers/DPSunderland1301.pdf

This discussion paper looks at the contribution of forests and trees in food security and nutrition. It argues that addressing food security and nutrition concerns needs an “agro-ecological” approach combined with biodiversity and food production strategies. It discusses the direct provisioning for food and nutrition security among the rural poor; the broader ecosystem services for productive and sustainable agricultural systems; the adaptation of food and agricultural systems to climate and other rapid change; and forest governance, forest policy, and food security and nutrition as a cross-cutting issue in capacity building.

United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition. (2014). Public interest civil society organisations statement to the ICN 2 Open Ended Working Group: CSO Statement to the Open Ended Working Group Meeting, 22 September 2014, Geneva. Retrieved from http://www.unscn.org/files/ICN2-2014/CS0_Statement_0EWG_-_Final_Version_-_21_Sep_14.pdf

This document presents the common concerns among diverse group of organisations on the global platform of food security and nutrition. It calls on governments to strengthen their policies on health, food, and nutrition by ensuring that trade and investment agreements do not take primacy over the implementation of the rights to food, nutrition, and health. It also seeks to address malnutrition in all its forms, including undernourishment, stunting, wasting, underweight and overweight, and obesity.

WFP, WHO, & UNAIDS. (2008). HIV, Food Security and Nutrition Policy Brief. World Food Programme, World Health Organization, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDs. Retrieved from http://data.unaids.org/pub/Manual/20o8/JC1515_policy_brief_nutrition_en.pdf

This policy brief looks at the links between food security and nutrition and the goal of achieving universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, and care. It highlights actions of governments, civil society organisations, and international development organisations in promoting food security and nutrition within the context of the HIV and AIDs epidemic.

FOOD SECURITY AND ITS IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

APWLD. (2011). India: Adaptation as a Matter of Survival: The Need for Empowerment and Capacity Building among Dalit and Irular Women in Tamil Nadu State. Climate Justice Briefs: Rural Women's Adaptation Strategies. Chiang Mai: APWLD. Retrieved from http://apwld.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Climate-Justice-lndia.pdf

This article reports the increasing burden on Dalit and Irular women due to the drought that diminishes income and forces displacement. It also points out how drought triggered the sale of agricultural lands to multinational companies for industrial use. Likewise, their adaptation practices are limited to survival strategies because of the multilayered discrimination against Dalit and Irular women.

APWLD. (2011). Philippines: Lack of Government Adaptation Measures among Indigenous Women and the Need for Participation of Local Communities. Climate Justice Briefs: Rural Women's Adaptation Strategies. Chiang Mai: APWLD. Retrieved from http://apwld.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Climate-Justice-Philippines-CWEARC.pdf

This brief focuses on the impact of climate change on indigenous women in the Cordillera Region, Philippines. It points out women's burden of ensuring food for their family in times of food shortage or food crisis. It also shares the community adaptation practices guided by the principles of sharing, respect, reciprocity, cooperation, and sustainability.

APWLD. (2011). Philippines: Land Tenure Insecurity and the Need for Empowerment Programmes for Rural Women in Rizal Province. Climate Justice Briefs: Rural Women's Adaptation Strategies. Chiang Mai: APWLD. Retrieved from http://apwld.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Climate-Justice-Philippines-AMIHAN.pdf

The brief discusses the impact of climate change on rural women where families in agricultural communities suffered low yields and loss of income due to drought, insect infestations, diseased crops, typhoon, and soil erosion. It features some adaptive measures practiced by women in the Philippines to address economic stress such as home gardening, traditional land use practices, and resource management techniques that promote biodiversity and forest and river sustainability.

Asian Development Bank. (2012). Food Security and Poverty in Asia and the Pacific: Key Challenges and Policy Issues. Mandaluyong: ADB. Retrieved from http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/pub/2012/food-security-poverty.pdf

This study explores the web of issues linking poverty and food security in the Asia and the Pacific. With Asia remaining as the most populous continent, this study shows that despite its economic growth and policies in alleviating poverty and hunger, progress in food security remains stagnant. It also highlights the effects of climate change and changing food prices in food security. The study promotes and encourages countries to adapt five basic policy strategies:

(1) safety nets and social protection programmes, (2) agricultural productivity, (3) rural development, (4) agricultural research, and (5) human capital investment.

Ecker, O. & Bresinger, C. (2012). The Food Security System: A New Conceptual Framework. IFPRI Discussion Popers 1166. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. Retrieved from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp01166.pdf

The paper presents a framework that links the complex interactions of factors both at the macro and micro levels; the external shocks such as global food price and natural disasters; and the interventions affecting the availability of food, people's access to food, and their nutritional status. It also provides a brief discussion on the emergence of food security into the development discourse.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2008). Climate Change and Food Security: A Framework Document. Rome: FAO. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/forestry/15538-079b31d45o81fe9C3d bc6ff34de4807e4.pdf

This framework document looks at the impact of climate change on food security. It presents how climate change affects all food systems, whether global, national, or local, hence the need for adaptive management and climate change mitigation as a strategic tool for policy considerations and addressing the risks in food security.

Habtezion, Z. (2012). Gender, Climate Change and Food Security. Gender and Climate Change Africa, Policy Brief 4. New York: UNDP. Retrieved from http://www.gender-climate.org/Content/Docs/Publications/UNDP_Policy-Brief-Gender-Climate-Change-and-Food-Security.pdf

This policy brief looks into the linkages of gender, climate change, and food security. It recognises women's vital role in ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural productivity. It emphasises that agriculture is central to the livelihoods of women, which is being threatened by genderbased constraints such as the adverse environmental factors that will provide repercussions for poor households. Finally, the document provides brief but concise recommendations for agricultural development and food security, such as (1) eliminate discrimination related to ownership and access to assets; (2) integrate gender analysis and gender-sensitive tools; (3) gather sexdisaggregated data; (4) make sure that women benefit from access to agricultural extension services; (5) ensure that women's voices are heard; and (6) develop technologies that address women's needs.

Hanson, C. (2013, May). Food Security, Inclusive Growth, Sustainability, and the Post-2015 Agendo. Background Research Paper Submitted to the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. World Resources Institute. Retrieved from http://www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Hanson_Food-Security-Inclusive-Growth-Sustainability-and-the-Post-2015-Development-Agenda.pdf

The paper highlights the multidimensional perspective of food security and illustrates how to contribute to poverty alleviation and economic development without jeopardising environmental sustainability. It encourages governments to promote programmes, policies, and measurable steps to address food security as part of the post-2015 agenda.

International Institute for Environment and Development. (2013). Agriculture and Food Systems for a Sustainable Future: An Integrated Approach. London: NED. Retrieved from http://pubs.iied.org/pdfs/17157llED.pdf

This brief focuses on integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions in addressing development issues. It highlights the importance of agriculture and food systems in attaining food security without sacrificing environmental assets. The brief points out that linking food security and nutrition with ecosystem productivity and sustainable livelihood can have a more long-term effect. It also puts the spotlight on investing in small producers, independent farmers, and the like, as well as recommends the integration of agriculture and food systems as a critical action towards a sustainable food security.

Lwando, C. (2013). Climate variability and Gender: Emerging Experiences from Western Zambia. Environment and NaturaI Resources Research. Vol. 3, No. 4, 133–146. Retrieved from http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/enrr/article/view/30368/18758

The paper provides a case study linking climate variability and gender to livelihoods of women and men by analysing the participation of the communities in policymaking and looking at the gender considerations in the policy formulation. The research reveals that climate variability such as droughts and floods affected the livelihoods of both men and women; women, however, have been the hardest hit. It was also pointed out that the adaptive capacity of women has been low due to several factors such as their low economic status, low education levels, lack of skills, and lack of access to assets, among others.

Newman, K., Fisher, S., Mayhew, S., & Stephenson, J. (2014). Population, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Sustainable Development: Forging a Common Agenda. Reproductive Health Matters, Volume 22, No. 43, 53–64. DOI: 10.1016/S0968-8080(14)43770-4.

Using a rights-based approach in understanding population dynamics, the paper argues that increased investment in sexual and reproductive health services and information and education campaign, as well as coalition-building across sectors, are key tools to creating a common ground in securing a sustainable development agenda. It specifically seeks to influence the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post-2015 international development paradigm by recommending that SRHR activists also work or forge alliance with sustainable development advocates carrying a wide range of issues such as climate change, environmental issues, and food and water security, among others.

Quisumbing, A. (2003). Household Decisions, Gender, and Development: A Synthesis of Recent Research. Washington DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. Retrieved from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/genderbook.pdf

This book provides a comprehensive compendium of several researches on intra-household allocation, particularly the role of gender in household decisionmaking and development processes in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and South Africa. It discusses several broad but interrelated themes such as power and resources within the household; agriculture and natural resources; health and nutrition; social capital, legal institutions, and property rights; and the impact of policies and interventions.

Ravindran, T.K.S., Nair, M., Marin, M.L, Silliman, J., & Osman, R. (2012, May 2–4). Thematic Popers Beyond ICPD and MDGs: NGOs Strategising for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia-Pacific. Thematic Papers Presented at the Regional Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/APNGOs/Thematic_Papers_Beyond_ICPD_&_the_MDGs.pdf

This document features the thematic papers that were presented during the regional meeting. The papers discuss a wide range of interlinking issues such as universal access to sexual and reproductive health and the impact of poverty, migration, climate change, and religious extremism on the SRHR of women and young people in the Asia-Pacific region. It also presents the outcomes of the regional meetings including a call to action requesting governments to prioritise SRHR in the region, a plan of action for advocacy to accelerate the achievement of SRHR in Asia-Pacific, and build a partnership for SRHR and sustainable development.

Schanbacher, W. (2010). The Politics of Food: The Global Conflict Between Food Security and Food Sovereignty. California: Praeger. Retrieved from http://en.bookfi.org/book/1149990

The book examines the notions of global poverty and food security as framed by international and multilateral organisations such as the UN, FAO, World Bank, IMF, and WTO. It looks at the critical issues linked with the framing and implementing of policies for food security, particularly the developmental policies promoted by FAO and IFAD and how these policies progress in terms of linking development workers with local communities to create sustainable practices of agricultural production. The book also introduces the concept of food sovereignty as an alternative to food security by highlighting developmental themes such as sustainable development, environmental conservation, genuine agricultural reform, mutual dependence, and local, smallscale community prosperity. There is a chapter devoted to analyse the ethical implications of food security and food sovereignty as the latter emphasises on community, cooperation, sustainable development, and local knowledge which are contradicting to neoliberal and developmental notions of individualism, competition, excessive consumption, and hierarchical and managerial knowledge.

Strothenke, W. & Hernandez, P. (2014.) Right to Food Journal 2014, Vol. 9 No. 1. Heidelberg, Germany: FIAN International. Retrieved from http://www.fian.org/fileadmin/media/publications/Right_to_FoodJournal_2014_web.pdf

This edition focuses on the benefits of working with the broadened concept of the human right to adequate food and nutrition. It showcases how civil society organisations and social movements had engaged in the preparatory process for the second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), and their critiques of the fragmented approach taken which is incoherent with the right to food and nutrition.

United Nations Development Programme. (2014). Human Development Report 2014 Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience. New York: United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved from http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr14-report-en-1.pdf

Focusing on the lifecycle vulnerability, this report explores the types of policies and institutional reforms that can build resilience into the fabrics of society, particularly for the excluded groups. It calls on to include the reduction of poverty and people's vulnerability as a central objective of the post-2015 agenda. The report gives weight to enhancement of people's choices and capabilities including the choices for health, education, and personal security, among others, to reduce persistent vulnerabilities. The report also shows how limited resources available for the poor, the women, the minorities, and other marginalised groups tend to prevent them from building capacities, exercising their choices, and claiming their rights. It also looks into the gender dimensions of poverty in old age where women's life expectancy is longer than men which would mean that older women would spend more time in poverty.

World Bank. (2013). Women and Land Rights: Legal Barriers Impede Women's Access to Resources. The World Bank and Trust Law Connect, a Thomson Reuters Foundation Service. Retrieved from http://www.trust.org/contentAsset/raw-data/144089ie-13ac-434a-bc73-9264e9aabbbf/file

The paper provides some legal frameworks that impact on women's ability to access resources, specifically on the legal and cultural barriers to women's access to land rights. It discusses the legal restrictions on women's right to own and control land and property in seven countries: Sudan, China, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, and Zambia.

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS (SRHR)

Alkema, L, et al. (2014). Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2013— Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, The World Bonk, and the United Notions Population Division. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/112682/2/9789241507226_eng.pdf

The report presents the global, regional, and country estimates of maternal mortality in 2013 and the trends from 1990 to 2013. It poses the challenge of achieving the MDG 5 target of reducing maternal mortality ratio as less than 40 percent of countries have a complete registration system. Among the countries categorised as “on track” are Maldives (93%), Bhutan (87%), Cambodia (86%), Equatorial Guinea (81%), Lao People's Democratic Republic (80%), Romania (80%), Timor Leste (78%), Cabo Verde (77%), Eritrea (77%), Nepal (76%), and Rwanda (76%).

APWLD. (2010). My Body, My Life, My Rights: Addressing Violations of Women's Sexual and Reproductive Rights-Summary Report of the Asia Pacific NGO Consultation with the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Its Couses and Consequences, 7–8 December 2009, Bangkok, Thailand. Chiang Mai: APWLD. Retrieved from http://apwld.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/VAW-2009-Final-Web-with-formatting-and-pics.pdf

The report clarifies the definition of sexual rights and reproductive rights, noting that the realisation of sexual rights is an integral part to gender equality, development, and social justice, while reproductive rights can only be achieved if commitment to equality and women's autonomy is translated to social and development policies. As such, access to optimal health care, housing, education, employment and property rights, freedom from physical abuse, harassment, and all forms of violence against women must be in place to fully enjoy reproductive rights. It also cites international instruments that can be used to advance women's sexual and reproductive rights as well as highlights critical issues from the Asia-Pacific region within the context of neoliberal globalisation, fundamentalisms, and militarisation.

ARROW. (2014). Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Post-2015 Agendo: Taking Their Rightful Place. ARROW Advocacy Briefs. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://arrow.org.my/download/Advocacy%20Brief%20Food%20Security%20-%20website%2018072014.pdf

This advocacy brief examines the important role and linkages of sexual and reproductive health rights in the development perspective, particularly SRHR linkages to other fundamental human rights framework such as the right to food and nutrition, right to life, right to health, right to self-determination, right to diverse family, right to livelihood, women's rights, children's rights, and intergenerational rights. It provides a snapshot of the global gains and gaps in achieving the MDGs, specifically focusing on the health component. This advocacy brief has an excellent discourse on the interlinkages of SRHR to poverty, which explicitly looks at poverty as the cause and consequence of poor health and wellbeing. Finally, it provides significant recommendations for policymakers and civil society organisations in asserting and advancing the call for SRHR for the post-2015 agenda, including but not limited to addressing hunger and poverty holistically, provision for women's access to education and employment, the right to nutrition, food sovereignty and gender justice for women in agriculture, universal access to high-quality SRH services, and establishing and strengthening cross-movement and multisectoral alliances, among others. This advocacy brief is also translated to Bangla, Hindi, and Tamil.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agendo—Asia-Pacific Regional Brief. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20Regional%20Brief%20-%20Asia%20Pacific.pdf

This regional brief is part of a series of post-2015 advocacy briefs on SRHR developed by ARROW for the Post-2015 Women's Coalition. It reviews the progress of MDG goals within the Asia and Pacific region, particularly on maternal health, mortality, and morbidity; access to safe abortion services and contraception; incidence of sexually transmitted diseases; provision of comprehensive sexuality education; and sexual rights. It also points out the diversities, inequalities, and inequities in the region along with other complex issues such as climate change, migration, and religious fundamentalism as affecting women's SRHR.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Climate Change and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20-%20Climate%20Change%20Brief.pdf

This issue brief looks at the interlinkages of climate change with SRHR by analysing the impact of climate change to universal access to SRHR and pushing the call to address SRHR within the context of sustainable development. It provides concrete examples on how climate change such as extreme weather events and drought impact women and their SRHR.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Finance and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20-%20Finance%20Brief.pdf

Resource mobilisation for SRHR is the key issue presented in this brief. It highlights the existing economic landscape that affects the financing for SRHR such as the reduction of public funding especially in the health sector, increased privatisation of the health sector, restrictive international trade agreements, vertical funding and absence of SRHR as core funding policies, lack of governance and accountability of the health system, and lack of funding of women organisations working on SRHR.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Influences of Religious Fundamentalism on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20-%20Religi0US%20Fundamentalism.pdf

This issue brief looks into the influences of religious fundamentalism on SRHR and how it can curb women's rights. It shows how religion, culture, and tradition perpetuate violence and discrimination such as early and child marriages which are strongly linked to girls' sexual health and reproductive capacity. It also points out the influence of religion in women's choice and control over their bodies including their access to contraception.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Brief. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20Regional%20Bnef%20-%20LAC.pdf

This provides an analytical synthesis of the gains and challenges experienced by Latin America and the Caribbean in implementing the ICPD Plan of Action. It looks into the regional contexts of sexual and reproductive health among adolescents and youth, sexual education, sexual diversity, voluntary termination of pregnancy, sexual and gender violence, maternal health, utero-cervical and breast cancers, and sexually transmitted infections.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Beyond 2014: Opportunities and Challenges. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20-%20ICPD%20Beyond°/0202014.pdf

This issue brief is also part of the Post-2015 Advocacy Briefs which recognises the importance of including the fulfillment of SRHR in the human rights approach to population and development. It identifies the gaps and challenges in achieving SRHR which include poverty, gender equality, climate change, political fragility of states, and political will to achieve SRHR for all.

The brief also highlights the gains and opportunities to achieve SRHR, such as the inclusion of SRHR in the post-2015 development agenda.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Sexuality. New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20-%20Sexuality%20Brief.pdf

This issue emphasises the importance of exercising sexual rights, including access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services. It calls for the recognition of sexual rights as human rights which includes freedom from discrimination, coercion, and violence along with the principles of bodily integrity, personhood, equality, and respect for diversity. It also identifies the gaps in the fulfillment of sexual rights in terms of sexual rights of adolescents and young people, promotion of comprehensive sexuality education, accessibility of services within the public health system, sexual rights around the choice of partner, consensual sexual relations and consensual marriage, and sexual rights in identity and expression, among others.

Post-2015 Women's Coalition. (2014). An Advocacy Brief: Post-2015 Development Agenda—Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for Young Women and Adolescents in Sub-Soharan Africa. Brunswick.

Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Post%202015%20Regional%20Brief%20-%20Africa.pdf

The brief highlights adolescent sexual and reproductive health as a critical issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, significantly due to the high prevalence of AIDs and increasing incidences of adolescent childbearing. It also indicates the poor reproductive health indicators in the region, such as high maternal mortality, low contraceptive use, harmful traditional practices, and inadequate resources for education, health, and social services which hamper the positive reproductive health outcomes.

ARROW. (2014). Young People of Asia : What is the Status of Our Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights? Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Arrow_SRHR%20document_FA.pdf

The report examines the progress made since ICPD and identifies the existing gaps and challenges that young people face in terms of exercising and realising their SRHR. Among the issues that young people in the region encounter include adolescent pregnancy, HIV and AIDs, traditional and harmful practices (e.g., early forced marriages, female circumcision, honour killings), homophobia, and transphobia. It also provides recommendations on how to address these issues by having access to SRHR services and information including, but not limited to, comprehensive sexuality education and creation of youthfriendly SRHR services. It also recognises the critical role of the Commission on Population and Development 2014 in winning the battle for young people's SRHR in Asia.

Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). (2013). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights. ICPD+20: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Middle East and North Africa. Cairo: EIPR. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/publications/ICPD+20/MENA%20Report.pdf

This monitoring report presents the status of feminist movements in the region and the country's position on international documents and agreements. Particularly, it monitors the progress made by each country in achieving global standards in maternal health, abortion, population policies, and contraception and reproductive cancers. It covers issues related to young people's sexuality, HIV and AIDs, gender-based violence, and trafficking. It also points out the need for a comprehensive sexuality education and access to SRH services.

Godwin, J. (2013). Young People and the Low in Asia and the Pacific: A Review of Lows and Policies Affecting Young People's Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Services. Bangkok: UNESCO. Retrieved from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002247/224782E.pdf

The review assesses existing international agreements and obligations of countries in Asia and the Pacific Region, as well as national policies related to sexual and reproductive health rights of the youth, including access to HIV services. It also finds some countries in Asia and the Pacific region having conservative legal traditions with regards to sexuality and reproduction which hinder young people's access to SRH and HIV services.

Loaiza, E. & Liang, M. (2013). Adolescent Pregnancy: A Review of the Evidence. New York: UNFPA. Retrieved from http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/swp2013/ADOLESCENT%20PREGNANCY_UNFPA.pdf

The report presents the current situation of pregnancies among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years of age and the interventions to minimise pregnancy among adolescents including programmatic approaches and the challenges ahead. It also illustrates the potential effects of adolescent pregnancy as well as the disparities in adolescent pregnancy associated with social and economic characteristics, educational attainment, and household wealth. It specifically notes that the survival and development of children is also dependent of the provision of high standard health services including nutrition and access to water and sanitation, among others. The report further shows the implications of adolescent pregnancy for policies and programmes which should include assessment of its patterns and prevalence, targeting areas with high proportions of girls at risk, and allocating resources to minimise or prevent pregnancy and motherhood among girls.

Locklear, A. & Abeysekera, S. (2012). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights Guidance Series: Analysing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/publications/ICPD+15/R&R_GuidanceSeries.pdf

Divided into two sections, this publication demonstrates the links between CEDAW and ICPD while emphasising the interrelatedness and interdependence of rights. It looks into how discrimination against women contributes to women's lack of access to SRHR services as well as the denial of their right to autonomy, bodily integrity, and choice in matters related to their sexual and reproductive lives. It also features country case studies on women's reproductive health and their access to family planning services including the use of contraception and abortion. Specifically, the guidance series outlines how CEDAW can be used to analyse women's sexual and reproductive health and rights issues.

Lukale, N. & Ngwenya, I. (2014). Youth Fact Sheet: Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights for Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Geneva: World YWCA & ARROW. Retrieved from http://arrow.org.my/download/Africa%20-%20youth%20 fact%20sheet.pdf

This advocacy brief outlines the current status of adolescents' SRHR in nine Sub-Saharan African countries: Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia. It provides facts and trends on adolescent fertility rate, contraceptive use, HIV prevalence rate, early child and forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. It further calls for a comprehensive sexuality education to increase awareness on adolescents' SRHR and their access to such services.

Ravindran, T.K.S. (2012). Plenary 1: Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Young People in the Asia Pacific Region. In Geer, G., Proceedings of the Regional Meetings: Beyond ICPD and the MDGs: NGOs Strategising for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in AsiaPacific Region. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/APNGOs/Proceedings%20Report_Final.pdf

The paper presents a definition and conceptual understanding of universal access to SRH, the progress made, and the barriers toward the achievement of universal access in the region, as well as the advocacy agenda to address those barriers. It points out that gender inequalities limit women's ability to make decisions related to their healthcare and at the same time access to health and SRH services and resources can be affected by other factors including ethnicity, class, and gender norms. It concludes that although there is progress made, Asia-Pacific is nowhere near universal access to SRH.

Ravindran, T.K.S. (2011). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights. Thematic Studies Series 2: Pathways to Universal Access to Reproductive Heath Care in Asia. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/publications/ICPD+15Country&ThematicCaseStudies/PathwaystoUniversal.pdf

This thematic studies series examines the implications of health sector reform for universal access to reproductive health services in countries like Pakistan, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Thailand. It shows that Thailand has been successful in achieving the Universal Health Care Coverage through its Universal Health Care Coverage Scheme since it was implemented in 2001. Cambodia, on the other hand, is seen to be relatively better compared to Lao PDR in terms of women's access to reproductive health services and basic maternal healthcare, while Pakistan has been increasingly moving to privatisation and thus farther away from universal health care coverage.

Reproductive Health Matters and ARROW. (2011). Repoliticising Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Report of a Global Meeting, Langkawi, Malaysia, 3–6 August 2010. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.rhmjournal.org.uk/publications/langkawi-report.pdf

This publication is a proceedings report of a global meeting attended by diverse groups of experts for the development of a transformative agenda to move forward the sexual and reproductive health and rights beyond ICPD and MDGs. It covers six themes: (1) macroeconomic influences on health, (2) sexual and reproductive health and rights in public health education, (3) the role of the pharmaceutical industry in enabling or not enabling universal access to healthcare services, (4) the human rights approach to SRHR, (5) funding for SRHR, and (6) perpetuating power which links maternal health and wellbeing to SRHR.

Sen, G. (2014, January 20–24). SRHR in the Asia Pacific: Advances and Challenges. Paper Presented at the First Plenary Session, 7th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health Rights. Manila, Philippines. Retrieved from http://www.dawnnet.org/feminist-resources/sites/default/files/articles/apcrshr_talk_22jan2014.pdf

This presentation recognises some significant gains in the SRHR in Asia and the Pacific including the funding for maternal mortality and morbidity as well as the extent to which the health of newborns depends on the nutritional and health status of women. General advances in SRHR include the SRH service provisions, the direction of movement on SRHR, the involvement of young people and adolescents in SRHR programmes, and the health reforms in general. The author likewise presents the remaining challenges such as inequalities in access to SRH services and information that have marginalised the poorest 40 percent of women and adolescents, poor quality of SRH services and of health, and weak accountability mechanisms.

Tanabe, M., et al. (2012). Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs in Humanitarian Settings: An In-depth Look at Family Planning Services.

Women's Refugee Commission, Save the Children, UNHCR, UNFPA. Retrieved from http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2013/AAASRH_good_practice_documentation_English_FINAL.pdf

This publication shares the key findings of a year-long exercise by the Women's Refugee Commission and Save the Children mapping existing adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services. The report shows the increasing issue of ASRH in both development and humanitarian context including during conflict or disaster. It identifies the commonly reported challenges to providing ASRH services such as adolescent knowledge and use of services, community attitudes, funding, provider attitude and skills, availability of supplies and methods, and level of insecurity in the setting. It also illustrates case studies demonstrating good practices on ASRH in Thailand, Colombia, and Uganda.

Thanenthiran, S. (Ed.) (2011). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights Thematic Studies Series 3: Reproductive Autonomy and Rights in Asia. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/publications/ICPD+15Country&ThematicC aseStudies/Reproductive_Autonomy_&_Rights_in_Asia.pdf

This publication presents the key findings for a selection of reproductive autonomy and rights indicators across 12 countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. It looks at the population policies of the 12 countries, specifically the delivery of reproductive health services. It also shares country case studies on specific issues of reproductive autonomy and rights at the national level, such as the barriers to contraceptive use in Cambodia, the access to contraception within a decentralising system of governance and health service provisions, as well as access to safe abortion in Indonesia, contraception and abortion in Pakistan, and the lack of accessibility of young people to family planning information in the Philippines.

Thanenthiran, S., Racheria, S.J.M., & Jahanath, S. (2013). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights: ICPD+20: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia Pacific. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/publications/ICPD+20/ICPD+20_ARROW_AP.pdf

This monitoring report outlines the development in women's empowerment, health financing, and the realisation of SRHR in the 21 countries of Asia-Pacific region: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. The report also shows an increasing trend of privatisation of healthcare in the region as well as higher rates of out-of-pocket expenditures which pose a significant barrier towards achieving universal access to health and women's SRH services. It also presents sub-regional estimates and country data on key SRHR indicators such as fertility, contraception, adolescent births, safe abortion, maternal mortality, reproductive cancers, HIV and AIDs, and sexual rights.

Turagabeci, P. & Tilbury, B. (2014). Pacific Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://arrow.org.my/download/Pacific_Arrow%20Factsheet%20Final%20DrafH°/o20(1).pdf

This factsheet provides a snapshot of some of the key indicators and recommendations related to young people's SRHR in the Pacific which include adolescent fertility, contraceptive use and unmet needs, HIV prevalence, comprehensive sexuality education, youth-friendly SRH services, sexual and gender-based violence, sexual orientation and gender identity, and access to abortion.

UNFPA and Center for Reproductive Rights. (2013). Reproductive Rights: A Tool for Monitoring State Obligations. UNFPA and Center for Reproductive Rights. Retrieved from http://reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/crr_Monitoring_Tool_State_Obligations.pdf

This publication is a good monitoring tool to oversee governments' compliance with international legal instruments on human rights, particularly on reproductive rights. It covers a wide range of reproductive rights issues such as freedom from discrimination, contraceptive information and services, safe pregnancy and childbirth, abortion and post-abortion care, comprehensive sexuality education, freedom from violence against women, and HIV and AIDs. It also provides concrete definitions of key terms such as sexual health, accountability, monitoring and evaluation, informed consent, and participation, among others.

Woods, Z. (2014). Identifying Opportunities for Action on Climate Change and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. ARROW Working Paper. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/download/Scoping%20Study%20-%20Climate%20Change%20and%20SRHR.pdf

This scoping study attempts to identify the interlinkages between climate change and SRHR by examining a country-level response in addressing gender equality and SRHR within the context of climate change. It presents climate-related vulnerabilities faced by women and girls in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It also looks at the policy gaps with regards to gender equality and SRHR and recommends the incorporation of SRHR issues into national level action and response to climate change including effective measures to support the resilience and adaptive capacity of women and girls.

Yoval, N. (2014). 20 Years After Cairo: For a World of Equality and Rights. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://arrow.org.my/download/20years%20after%20Cairo_20Mzo.pdf

This factsheet looks at the conditions as well as the structural factors that impede the full implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Latin American and the Caribbean region. This include, among others, inequality in income distribution, conservative governments hampering progress in human rights specifically on SRHR, lack of effective mechanisms for implementing international commitments and national laws, and precarious social security systems that do not guarantee access to SRHR. It also presents the status of young people's SRHR in the region by looking at issues associated with comprehensive sexuality education, access to youthfriendly sexual health services, teen pregnancy, abortion, HIVand STI.

SRHR AND FOOD SECURITY

ARROW. (2014). ARROW Proceedings Report: Intersectional Understandings—A Regional Meeting to Build Intermovement Linkages in Poverty, Food Sovereignty, Food Security, Gender and SRHR in South Asia, 10–11 September 2013, Bangkok, Thailand. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://arrow.org.my/download/Proceedings%20Report%20September%202013.pdf

This report documents the proceedings of a regional meeting to build intermovement linkages in poverty, food sovereignty, food security, gender, and SRHR in South Asia held on 10–11 September 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand. It features substantive presentations on contextualising a common understanding of the concepts of poverty, food sovereignty, food security, and SRHR. It also presents the intersections of food security, poverty, and gender to specific SRHR issues such as access to healthcare, contraception, maternal health, and sexuality. Lastly, it identifies challenges, gaps, and recommendations to intermovement collaborations and how to put forward these intersections of issues on poverty, food security, food sovereignty, gender, and women's SRHR in the post-2015 global development agenda.

Awin, N. (2014). Bridging the Divide: Linking Poverty Eradication, Food Sovereignty and Security, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. In ARROW for Change, Vol. 20 No. 1. 2–6. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/uploads/20140616121147_v20n1.pdf

This editorial article establishes the connection or linkages of poverty, food sovereignty and security, and SRHR. It looks into how gender can be a critical element in an individual's access to adequate nutrition and food; access to healthcare services; and exposure to violence, which can contribute to poor health, including SRH, and wellbeing.

Bangkok Cross-Movement Call on Addressing Poverty, Food Sovereignty, Rights to Food and Nutrition, and SRHR. 11 September 2013, Bangkok, Thailand. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/?p=bangkok-cross-movement-call-on-addressing-poverty-food-sovereignty-rights-to-food-and-nutrition-and-srhr

This call was an outcome of the “Regional Meeting to Build Intermovement Linkages in Poverty, Food Sovereignty, Food Security, Gender, and SRHR in South Asia” organised by ARROW and held on 10–11 September 2013 in Bangkok. The call affirms the importance of addressing issues of poverty, hunger, malnutrition, landlessness, gender inequality and their root causes, and SRHR in achieving social justice. It specifically stresses that right to adequate food and nutrition is intrinsically linked to all other human rights, including the rights to water, housing, education, property, decent work, livelihood, social security, and social welfare; and at the same time cannot be separated from women's self-determination, autonomy and bodily rights, and the right to health. It likewise calls for a united movement against neoliberal globalisation and for the full and immediate implementation of existing instruments, policies, and agreements at all levels which ensure equal rights and access to resources and services for women.

Danguilan, M. (2012). Facing Reproductive Health Risks: Women as Food Producers and Buyers. In ARROW for Change, Vol. 18 Special Edition, 8–9. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://arrow.org.my/publications/AFC/v18SpEd.pdf

While recognising the crucial role of women in agriculture, the article points out the existing macro-economic and structural issues that women continue to face which limit their effective participation in agriculture. It also highlights the reproductive health risks women are exposed to as food producers and as buyers and consumers. As food producers, women seem to acquire diseases that affect their reproductive system such as the linkages between the use of pesticides and pregnancy outcomes. As food buyers and consumers, poor women are heavily affected by the price increases resulting in women eating less nutritious food in lesser quantities and exacerbating women's poor health and nutrition in contexts where tradition holds that women eat last and least. Chronic undernutrition is linked to adverse health consequences, especially during pregnancy and childbirth.

Danguilan, M. (2012). Plenary 3: Food Security and Nutrition and its Impact on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Young People in the Asia-Pacific Region. In Geer, G., Proceedings of the Regional Meetings: Beyond ICPD and the MDGs: NGOs Strategising for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia-Pacific Region. 29–31. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/APNGOs/Proceedings%20Report_Final.pdf

The presentation establishes the linkages between climate change, food security, migration, displacement, and lack of universal access to SRHR. It examines the contributing factors of hunger and food insecurity, which are linked to the power and control of global and local food chain by huge transnational corporations. It also identifies risks to men's and women's reproductive health through the use of pesticides and herbicides that is linked to increased risk of cancer, infertility and miscarriage.

Nair, M. (2012). Plenary 2: Poverty and its Impact on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Young People in the Asia Pacific Region. In Geer, G. Proceedings of the Regional Meetings: Beyond ICPD and the MDGs: NGOs Strategising for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia-Pacific Region. 23–25. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/APNGOs/Proceedings%20Report_Final.pdf

The presentation examines poverty as a multidimensional concept where those belonging to lower socio-economic groups have poorer health outcomes which contribute to lower productivity and wage earning capacity. Specifically, women living in poverty are denied the right to lead productive lives, participate in decision-making, and access SRH services. It proposes the development of social protection schemes along with harmonised poverty reduction and health strategies to provide protection for the vulnerable groups.

Paruzzolo, S., et al. (2010). Torgeting Poverty and Gender Inequality to Improve Maternal Health. International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Retrieved from http://www.icrw.org/files/publications/Targeting-Poverty-Gender-lnequality-lmprove-Maternal-Health_o.pdf

The paper provides a comprehensive analysis to substantiate the call to improve maternal health. It examines how poverty and gender inequality impact on maternal mortality due to barriers to maternal healthcare access and utilisation. It explicitly shows emerging evidence of the link between poverty and maternal deaths in low and middle income countries. It also discusses some effective strategies to increase utilisation of maternal healthcare services and ensuring that the benefits reached the poorest and the most disempowered women.

Raghuram, S. (2012). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights: Thematic Studies Series 5: Poverty, Food and Security, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights— Integrating and Reinforcing State Responsibilities, Integrating Societal Action. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/publications/ICPD+15Country&ThematicCaseStudies/Poverty_FoodSecurity_SRHR.pdf

Exploring the linkages of poverty, food security, and sexual and reproductive health and rights, this study provides a snapshot of how poverty aggravates women's vulnerability in the Asia-Pacific region. It emphasises SRHR as an important aspect in sustainable development, poverty eradication, gender equity, and health equity. The study is divided into two parts: the first gives us an overview of poverty and hunger vulnerability in the Asia Pacific, while the second part brings us to the stories of nine activists and academicians in the region which includes countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Nepal. Significantly, the paper provides specific recommendations to both government and civil society on what can be done to contextualise SRHR into poverty and hunger alleviation programmes.

Ravindran, T.K.S. (2014). Poverty, Food Security, and Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services: A Call for Cross-Movement Advocacy against Neoliberal Globalization. Reproductive Health Matters, Volume 22, No. 43, 14–27. Retrieved from http://www.rhmjournal.org.uk/publications/paper-of-the-month/RHM43-751-Ravindran.pdf

The paper looks at the impact of neoliberal globalisation and economic policies to poverty and food security, as well as its gendered implications. It illustrates how neoliberal globalisation influenced health and healthcare policies which adversely affects the achievement of a universal access to healthcare. Finally, it outlines clear paths of action to achieve sustainable economy by addressing the changes in global economic policies which also corresponds to changes within the health sector.

Ravindran, T.K.S. (2014). What It Takes: Addressing Poverty and Achieving Food Sovereignty, Food Security, and Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.armw.org.my/publications/ARROW%20Thematic%20Paper%2001.pdf

The paper asserts that in order to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, we need to address first the root causes of poverty and hunger—which is brought by neoliberal globalisation. It presents key concepts and definitions of poverty, food security, food sovereignty, and universal access and outlines the interconnections between poverty, food sovereignty, health, and healthcare access. It likewise discusses the influence of neoliberalism to poverty and food security as well as its differential impact to women and men. There is a discussion on the effects of neoliberal economic policies on healthcare services and the gendered implications of these policies for universal access to SRH services. The last section of this paper pertains to forging a new agenda for action towards achieving universal access to SRH services.

Smiles, S. (2012). Breaking Through the Development Silos: Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights, Millennium Development Goals and Gender Equity, Experiences from Mexico, India and Nigeria. Quezon City: Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era. Retrieved from http://issuu.com/dawnfeminist/docs/breakingsilos

This publication shares DAWN's research and analysis project on the interplay among policies related to MDGs in addressing poverty, gender, and sexual and reproductive health rights as implemented in African, South Asian, and Latin American regions. Using a gender lens approach, it looks into the poverty reduction strategies and its implications for women's health and empowerment, as well as the limited approaches in addressing SRHR. It also provides a critical look into the holistic framework of SRHR envisioned by the ICPD and the Beijing Conferences as being reduced to women's reproductive health needs under the rubric of maternal health.

Vistro, T. (2014). Poverty, Food Insecurity, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Post-2015 Agenda: Considerations from the Philippines. In ARROW for Change, Vol. 20 No. 1. 7–9. Kuala Lumpur: ARROW. Retrieved from http://www.arrow.org.my/uploads/20140616121147_v20n1.pdf

The article highlights the link between women's reproductive choices with other development issues. It shows how important it is for women to have the ability to make critical reproductive life choices that could help improve poverty reduction, food security, and wellbeing.