HERICO is coalition of women and women’s groups and organizations working to promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda. At HERICO, we believe that human rights apply to sexuality and reproduction, encompassing the right to access safe contraception, maternal healthcare, STI prevention and safe abortion services. We work to empower women and girls to make decisions about their bodies, ensuring health, gender equality and dignity.
Mission
To promote and protect Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and eliminate gender-based violence, stigma and harmful practices like child marriage, female genital mutilation through education, advocacy and health system strengthening.
Vision
A just and peaceful society with women able make decisions about their own bodies, accessing quality contraception, maternal care, HIV treatment and safe abortion services.
HERICO Objectives
1. Access to Services - Providing contraception, fertility care and maternal/newborn health services.
2. Safe Abortion Care - Promoting access to safe and legal abortion services.
3. HIV/STI Prevention & Treatment - Integrating HIV prevention, testing and treatment into sexual health services.
4. Ending Violence and Harmful Practices - Protecting women from sexual and gender-based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and early/forced marriage.
5. Comprehensive Sexuality Education - Delivering evidence-based, age-appropriate sexuality education to young women.
6. Advocacy & Human Rights - Defending the right to bodily autonomy and advocating for policy change
HERICO Principles
a). Life Course Approach - Our services address changing needs from adolescence through adulthood to older age.
b). Integration - SRH services should not be in isolation but integrated with primary health care (PHC) and HIV services.
c). Rights-Based - We focus on women’s rights, bodily integrity and autonomy.
d). Inclusivity - Our services are accessible to all, including adolescents, persons with disabilities and LBTQ+ women.
e). Emergency Response - In crises, the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is the starting point, transitioning to full services as soon as possible.
HERICO Targeted Interventions
1. Adolescent-Friendly Services-Tailored to young women's specific needs to address high-risk pregnancies and STIs.
2. Engaging Men and Boys-Expanding services to include men's SRH needs and fostering positive masculinity.
3. Community Engagement-Mobilizing communities to address harmful norms like child marriage and female genital mutilation.