The Impact of Globalization on Women's Reproductive Health and Rights: A regional perspective
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Development. Copyright © 1999 The Society for International Development. SAGE Publications (London, Thousand Oaks, CA and New Delhi), 1011-6370 (199912) 42:4; 145–149; 010946.
Local/Global Encounters
The Impact of Globalization on Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights: A regional perspective VA N I T H A SUBRAMANIAM
ABSTRACT Vanitha Subramaniam gives a regional perspective on the impact of globalization on women’s overall health and wellbeing, particularly in light of the recent financial crisis in the Asian region.
Introduction Globalization has affected the Asia–Pacific region as much as the rest of the world, as governments liberalize and deregulate the economy, which has led to reduced government interventions and accountability and an increase in privatization of public sectors such as health and education. Governments have to an extent allowed such mechanisms in the absence of social accountability. The health sector, for one, is very much influenced by any economic changes that take place, which has a direct impact on the issues of access and equity, of primary importance in determining health status. Already in this region, the impact of globalization on health, and in particular women’s health, could be felt all around in relation to equity and access. However, the recent financial and economic crisis has imposed an even more serious concern on the indicators of women’s health. It is important to keep in mind that progress has been slow towards achieving the Beijing goals of accessible, affordable, culturally appropriate, comprehensive, high quality health care for women. Already, many aspects of women’s total health needs in this region have been neglected. These include cancer screening and treatment, treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs), the health outcomes of violence against women, reproductive and sexual rights, and the need for a gender-sensitive approach to health care. Nevertheless, there may have been some gains in the improvement of women’s health, but the model of health care is still very much an economic one rather than a model that takes into account the human rights perspectives.
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Development 42(4): Local/Global Encounters Economic crisis affects women’s health Regionally, Southeast Asia is the most affected by the financial crisis, with Indonesia suffering a large economic downturn, followed by Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia experiencing substantial declines. The current economic crisis calls upon women to make greater sacrifices. There is no doubt that it is women who would bear the burden of the combined effects of inflation, recession and cost-cutting measures in the public sector, such as increased prices of basic commodities, high interest credit, loss of jobs for their male partners and themselves, and the privatization of social service sectors and utilities. However, with the added problem of the financial crisis, unemployment and casualization of female labour (i.e. women
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