You likely know a few stories or have your own personal experiences of the ways our education and health systems approach sexual health have deep impacts. Stories of bullying, shame, fear, isolation, and judgement from loved ones or service providers are all too prevalent. These experiences shape lives.
Abortion access, sexuality education and policy reform are Action Canada’s top priority areas. Because we see the ways policy, laws, and healthcare violate the rights and the well-being of people every day. The people are not the problem, discrimination, the lack of services, and long-standing myths are the problem.
When Action Canada first launched as Planned Parenthood 50 years ago, stories like the one that Ea shared with us were all too common, though often never spoken of. Lack of safe services put lives at risk.
Ea risked her health and criminalization to prevent having a child during an uncertain time in her life. Separated from an unreliable husband, she fell in love and became pregnant. There were no “trusted” abortion providers, there were no ratings or professional associations to uphold standards, people went off recommendations of people they knew or loose networks to find a provider.
The Access Line creates a safe place to call for trusted resources, information, and referrals. And we are constantly working to counter organizations who spread shame, misinformation, and myths.
We know the facts and we hear first hand over and over what it means for real people. We continue to partner with experts, clinics, and schools and have fought hard to ensure the rights we all deserve are available to all, not just some.
Over the next year we will face many challenges to advance and hold the line so hard-won by generations of activists and rights holders.
People are breaking the silence that make sexual health issues taboo, evidence is piling up that mental and physical health are benefited when sexual health and rights are upheld and defended. Thank you for standing with us.
Sincerely,
Sandeep Prasad
Executive Director
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights