One in every three women have been subjected to sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. This does not account for the 1 woman every 11 minutes who is killed by her partner (UNODC, 2020). LGBT+ people are also known to be disproportionately affected by sexual and gender-based violence. This is a human rights violation that undermines health, dignity, security and autonomy and is described as an ongoing shadow pandemic. “Kvinnehelse i Krisetid” argues for the importance of strengthening sexual rights to end the brutal violence that too many women and queer people experience.

How can research shed light on this pandemic and bring it out of its shadows? How can academia contribute to improved sexual rights globally?

Program:

13:00 Hello and mingle – Coffee is being served

13:05 Welcome

13:10 Introduction by Kristine Bjartnes

13:40 The role of research and academia to strengthen sexual rights and engage in ending against sexual and gender-based violence.

Panel talk: Ine Skyrud (SNU) and Selma Bratberg (SAIH).
Sex og Politikk will facilitate the talk and include comments from the audience

14:10 Closing comments

14:20 End of program and mingle

The book “Kvinnehelse i krisetid” (women’s health in a time of crisis), written by Kristine Bjartnes, gives a thorough introduction to sexual rights and how it is practiced in different parts of the world. Bjartnes brings the reader to the politics behind and demonstrates how the fight for female bodily autonomy continues to shape both national and international laws and practice. Bjartnes uses the recent Covid-19 pandemic as a magnifying glass to emphasize the continuous disregard for women’s sexual rights.

Kristine Sommerset Bjartnes currently lives in New York where she works on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Bjartnes has formerly been the head of the international team in Sex og Politikk and was the deputy leader in Norwegian Students’ and Academics’ International Assistance Fund (SAIH).

The event is financially supported by FOKUS and is a part of the global campaign “16 days of Action” aiming to increase knowledge on violence against women.

The event is open, but you need to register.