(Re)framing Contraception

Self-determined family planning is a fundamental human right. It includes freedom of choice as well as access to and information about contraception. And yet contraceptives are not accessible to all since they are often expensive or stigmatised. Giving individuals who are capable of getting pregnant the right to choose has been a feminist success – but the failure of governments and pharmaceutical companies to support the development of modern methods of contraception or male contraception is striking. And the method used is not always applied voluntarily – sterilisation and hormonal contraception without informed consent are practices that are still in use in various parts of the world.

In the second episode of our online discussion series on (Re)framing Reproduction we will shed light on the (post)colonial and patriarchal practices that continue to impede informed contraceptive choice today.

Speakers:

• Marina Davidashvili, European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights, Belgium

• Jana Pfenning, Better Birth Control, Germany

• Heather Vahdat, Male Contraception Initiative, USA

Moderator: Sham Jaff, a journalist and political scientist in Berlin. She writes the weekly newsletter 'what happened last week' on underreported news from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Jaff is also the host of several podcasts such as '190220 – Ein Jahr nach Hanau', a Spotify Original podcast that was awarded the Grimme Online Award in 2021.