Ramya Jawahar Kudekallu
October 11 marks International Day of the Girl, a day to recognize and reflect upon girls’ rights and the need to empower girls around the world. Ensuring that adolescents and girls of reproductive age have access to sexual education and contraceptive choice is central to their empowerment — through contraception, they have a greater chance of completing their education, pursuing their careers, and fulfilling their dreams. FP2020 spoke with Ramya Jawahar Kudekallu, 27 of Bangalore, India about her work to bring contraception to women and girls in their communities. Read two other interview with youth advocates from Uganda and Zambia.
Ramya is Advocate and Communications Coordinator at the Alternative Law Forum and Executive Committee Member and Advisor on Law and Policy for International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP).
Why family planning?
After I graduated law school in early 2012, I became involved in advocacy around sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). I am from India, and the family planning agenda had been a part of the national health framework for decades, but we simply have not done enough to address the larger fraction unmet need, especially for young unmarried women and girls. There is an absence of agency, choice and contraceptive options, which continues to contribute to the maternal mortality rate and number of unsafe abortions.
Conversations on family planning is often the only safe landing for ‘sex education’ or information on safe sex practices for young women. Family planning advocacy, programs and centres have nudged the door just a little wider so that we may have at least have access to correct information and contraceptives.
I want to continue to work on getting the door kicked down!
Why are young girls so important?
Sexual and reproductive health rights are human rights. It is that simple, inalienable and non-negotiable. Access to contraceptives speaks to the expansion of this right for young women and girls.
Part of family planning advocacy is to dismantle patriarchy within social institutions and encourage equality in intimate partner relationships. Women often have very little choice with what happens with their bodies and these negotiations are outside the reach of any law or policy. There is no doubt that the issue is far broader and has a greater impact than just use of contraceptives, it is a furtherance of the rights of women.
What makes you hopeful about the future for girls in your home country?
I trust in the investments and engagement with young people so that they may have choice in India. It means a new generation of adults will ensure the protection of the human rights of women and girls, especially mechanisms that will allow universal access to health, information, ensure informed choice of a broad range of safe and affordable contraceptive methods in an environment that in non-discriminatory.
In order for us to promise that these services are available to every single woman, the investment in youth needs to continue and increase.
What actions have you taken to promote family planning in your community?
Since 2013, I have been part of the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP). IYAFP looks to enable youth from around the world to contribute a significant voice and lead interventions and decisions on family planning and SRHR.
My role has been to produce training modules and advocacy tool kits for young community workers in over 50 countries. These tool kits are part of a larger support system which includes funding, partnerships and research for those working on family planning.
These leaders will in turn influence and intervene at their local and regional levels demanding access, choice and the involvement for youth when it come to family planning.
Want to learn more about Ramya’s good work in her community? Contact her here:
Twitter: @rjawah
Email: ramya.jawahar.k@gmail.com
