ASTRA is a regional network of NGOs and individuals advocating in a collective voice for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Central and Eastern Europe.
ASTRA works for the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights as fundamental human rights and advocates for their observance, prioritization and implementation on the international, regional and national agendas.
As a vital aspect of women’s empowerment and gender equality, ASTRA supports women’s right to free and informed choice on and access to: abortion, full range of modern contraceptives, information, education and services on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Special attention is given to youth and other underserved groups.
ASTRA Mission:
ASTRA strives to increase awareness about SRHR issues and to ensure that the specific reality of women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health in Central and Eastern Europe receive the highest priority on international, regional and national agendas, in particular at the EU and UN.
ASTRA advocates for:
sexual and reproductive health and rights as the equality and human rights issue in the context of international and regional agreements promoting the best legal, policy and service provision standards in SRHR. ASTRA is monitoring and reporting on the status of implementation of SRHR and gender-related policies incl. Cairo and Beijing agreements as well as on European Union policies. ASTRA is regularly informing about latest developments at the international, regional and national levels regarding SRHR via monthly e-bulletin and other means of communication. ASTRA is organizing public events, conferences and workshops to raise awareness about SRHR and build capacity of its members and supporters.
ASTRA activities:
1. Advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights by organizing international seminars, meetings and public events;
2. Publishing the reports, fact-sheets, brochures, leaflets and other promotion materials;
3. Organizing the training and workshop as the support the capacity development of member NGO's and representatives of neighboring countries;
4. Preparing the open letters and position statements to the EU officials;
5. ASTRA advocates for SRHR agreements in the context of relevant international events - participation in the international conferences.
Selected ASTRA activities:
Ad. 1. ASTRA events:
• SRHR Advocacy in the Council of Europe - Workshop for ASTRA Network activists (2009);
• Hearing in the European Parliament on SRHR in CEE (2006);
• The seminar "Women and HIV/AIDS in CEE: Bringing Different Communities Together to Advance Common Goals" (2005);
• Launching ASTRA publication on SRHR – European Parliament (2005).
Ad. 2. ASTRA publications:
• monthly e-bulletin “CEE Bulletin on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights”;
• reports:
- Legal Commitments to Gender Equality and SRHR Issues in Albania, Macedonia, Georgia, Poland and Ukraine (2009);
-Why Should Central and Eastern European Countries Ratify Protocol No.12 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms? (2007);
-Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Europe. Report to the European Union (2006);
- Closing the Gap on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Enlarged European Union (2005);
- Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the European Union (EU) Present status and potential directions for advancement (2004);
- Reproductive Health and Rights in Central and Eastern Europe. Country Reports (2004).
• ASTRA guide: How to use the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in matters of reproductive law: The case law of the European Court of Human Rights (2004);
• The book: The Application of Human Rights to Reproductive and Sexual Health: a Compilation of the Work of the European Human Rights System (2002).
Ad. 3. ASTRA trainings and workshops:
• SRHR Advocacy in the Council of Europe - Workshop for ASTRA Network activists (2009);
• Workshop on the Fundraising in the EU – Warsaw/Poland, 2005;
• Workshop on Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights - Yerevan/Armenia, 2004;
• ASTRA Workshop on Using International Human Rights Instruments to Promote and Protect Women's Human Rights in the area of sexual and reproductive health – Vilnius/Lithuania 2003;
• Study/Advocacy Tour in Brussels - Brussels/Belgium, 2003;
• Advocacy for Safe Abortion in the Central and Eastern Europe - Warsaw/Poland, 2000.
Ad. 4. ASTRA position statements and open letters:
• Please go to http://www.astra.org.pl/?open-letters-and-statements,40
Ad. 5. ASTRA members are participating in the international conferences connected with sexual and reproductive rights/gender equality/human rights issues:
• The 53rd session of Commission on the Status of Women (2009);
• The European Health Forum (2008);
• AWID Forum (2008);
• International Women’s Health Meeting (2005);
• AWID Forum (2005);
• Beijing+10 (2005);
• European Population Forum (2004).
All reports regarding ASTRA activities are available on ASTRA website (see the menu on the right).
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About ASTRA
