12–13 August 2025 | Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
Organised by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with support from international partners, the Climate Change – Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (CC-SRHR) workshop aimed to encourage SADC Member States to integrate SRHR services into climate preparedness and response.
The key objectives of the workshop were to:
• Encourage Disaster Risk Management (DRM) agencies and Ministries of Health to include SRHR in legal frameworks and disaster preparedness plans.
• Provide a platform to share lessons and good practices, particularly in integrating HIV and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) initiatives.
Research presented during the workshop highlighted the significant impact of hydro-meteorological hazards, such as floods and droughts, on SRHR. Key issues identified in-cluded:
• During droughts, women and girls often travel long distances to collect water, increas-ing their vulnerability to harassment and abuse.
• Floods damage homes and livelihoods, often forcing families into shelters where women and girls face higher risks of abuse. In some cases, families resorted to child marriage in exchange for goods.
• Rural communities have limited access to healthcare facilities, and disasters further complicate the delivery of emergency care.
During group discussions, DRM and health representatives shared the status of SRHR, HIV, and GBV integration in their national disaster and health frameworks. Ms. Juliette Jeanny, representing Seychelles’ DRMD, reported that:
• HIV care falls under the Ministry of Health, supported by a legal framework, national health policy, and allocated budget.
• Seychelles offers universal primary healthcare and regularly organises Health Fairs that provide STI testing and HIV awareness campaigns.
Workshop recommendations for Seychelles included:
• The Seychelles Vulnerability Assessment Community (SezVAC), under DRMD, should conduct a vulnerability survey that can include persons living with HIV/AIDS.
• The National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategic Plan should be reviewed to identify opportunities for integrating SRHR initiatives.
Also present at the workshop was Dr. Vanessa Telemaque, Director of Health Promotion, Media and Communication unit from the Ministry of Health.
