Special Lecture on Gender and Health

On September 29, 2023, the Department of Human Rights organized a special lecture on Gender and Health for the second-year students of Loreto College, Kolkata. It was delivered by Ms. Sreela Dasgupta of TCS, who has worked for over two decades in the not-for-profit sector, focusing on issues related to gender equity, women’s reproductive health and rights, public health service delivery, queer rights, and violence against women.

Ms. Dasgupta drew examples from Indian and global contexts to highlight how patriarchal definitions of women’s identity have limited their access to essential resources and excluded them from decision-making roles. Women’s reproductive rights, the socio-political barriers obstructing their access to health care, and their vulnerabilities to pregnancy and STI/HIV were woven into the deliberations. Ms. Dasgupta also emphasized that the way forward lay in the dissemination of accurate information, optimal utilization of available services, and active efforts to educate oneself and assist others, especially those less privileged. The talk was followed by a vibrant interactive session which allowed the attending students to participate in the discussion and enhanced their sense of awareness and responsibility.