The COVID-19 impact on sexual- and reproductive-health rights and gender based violence

Abstract

COVID-19 arrived in South Africa at a critical time for women's rights. The lockdown has brought with it an increase in reports of domestic violence and threatens to disrupt access to sexual- and reproductive-health services a cornerstone of gender equality. Interventions to protect sexual- and reproductive-health rights during the crisis need to be part of an intersectional effort that takes into account vulnerabilities brought about by diverse identities and experiences, including those faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, ally, pansexual (LGBTIQ+) individuals.