About Us

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of women and girls

Coalition of Women Advocates (COWAD) is a coalition of all women, girls and people
of all genders who work to promote sexual and reproductive rights. Through our fearless
advocacy and partnerships with women’s groups and movements, we have consistently
pressed for sexual and reproductive rights to remain central in the fight for gender
equality. Membership is also open to all civil society actors who work to defend the
rights of women and grils like journalists, health workers and activists, peacebuilders,
private actors, development, humanitarian actors, lesbian, gay, transgender and
intersex (LGBTI) activists, as issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity are
part of achieving gender equality. Join us as we continue to build a world in which
every woman and girl has the right to control her body and define her future.

Why sexual and reproductive rights

Whoever you are, wherever you live, all the decisions you make about your own body
should be yours. Yet in our communities, many of us are persecuted for making our own
choices and many more are prevented from making any choices at all. The Government
is trying to dictate who we can kiss, who we should love, how we must dress, how we
identify ourselves, when we have children, and how many children wecan have.
Sexual and reproductive rights mean you should be able to make your own decisions
about your body and:
a) Get accurate information about these issues
b) Access sexual and reproductive health services including contraception
c) Choose if, when and who to marry
d) Decide if you want to have children and how many
They also mean our lives should be free from all forms of sexual violence, including
rape, female genital mutilation, forced pregnancy, forced abortion and forced
sterilization.
COWAD is campaigning to make sure we all have control over our sexual and
reproductive choices.