No Woman Behind

The rural areas of Ayaviri and Yauli, located in the highlands of the Puno & Huancavelica regions of Peru, have exorbitantly high poverty rates, as well as high rates of maternal mortality.  The high incidence of maternal mortality is due to a number of factors.  Citizens, policy makers, and health workers have a limited understanding of maternal health rights.  This, in turn, causes limited implementation of maternal healthcare within the Peruvian health system.  Additionally, many poor, rural women refuse to utilize public healthcare, partially because of cultural apprehensions concerning “western” medical practice, and partially because of the abusive treatment experienced by these women in medical facilities. 

“No Woman Behind” uses a human rights approach to accomplish several goals. It aims to strengthen the capacities of local civil society networks to implement effective strategies and mechanisms for improving maternal health. The project also attempts to strengthen the accountability of duty-bearers by increasing knowledge and understanding of women’s health rights, specifically those of poor, rural women. Finally, the project seeks to implement culturally-adapted social communication strategies in order to raise awareness among and inform rural women of their rights.  Overall, the project seeks to increase and strengthen the voice of women, health providers, and local authorities and raise these parties’ awareness of human rights, thereby closing the vast gap between policy makers and poor, rural women.

Links:

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