Let’s Talk Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Private-Sector Workplace

On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD30), and following the launch of the policy paper on Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in the Private Sector, UNFPA hosted a conversation to celebrate and reflect on how to further SRHR progress in the workplace.

Under the theme “Private Sector Action on SRHR in the Workplace,” the talk took place on 30 July as part of the “Let’s Talk SRHR!” conversation series. Civil-society and private-sector partners gathered to discuss the metrics, indicators and tools for designing effective policies and programmes for women’s reproductive health in the workplace. 

The conversation explored ways that the private sector can apply its influence and financing power to promote SRHR at work. For example, the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business illustrates how private-sector actors can commit to respecting reproductive rights, adopt the necessary practices, track progress and invest in improving SRHR for the workforce. Speakers shared examples of actions taken by their businesses to ensure the well-being of workers and to care for the SRHR needs of the female workforce. This included valuable lessons and replicable good practices. 

Speakers also highlighted the strategies used by private-sector actors to encourage and increase investments by companies in SRHR at work. Further, the conversation considered the role of private-sector actors in responding to typically under-addressed cases, such as employees dealing with infertility. Participants discussed how businesses can and do work with communities and governments to address SRHR challenges, such as gender-based violence, more sustainably.

The conversation was moderated by Mariarosa Cutillo, Chief of UNFPA's Strategic Partnerships Branch. Speakers included Frank Strelow, Head of Family Planning at Bayer AG; Sowmya Dhanaraj,  Senior Research Fellow at Good Business Lab; Kathy Baxter, Group Project Manager at The Spar Group; Sazini Mojapelo, Chief Executive Officer of GBV Response Fund, South Africa; and Bame Modungwa, Strategic Partnerships Analyst, UNFPA. 

Watch the full conversation here.