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The South and Southeast Asia Resource Centre
on Sexuality is hosted by TARSHI (Talking About
Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues) in New
Delhi, India. TARSHI is an NGO that believes that all
people have a right to sexual wellbeing and a self affirming
and enjoyable sexuality. The Resource
Centre aims to increase knowledge and scholarship
on issues of sexuality, sexual health and sexual
well-being in this region. It specifically focuses on
sexuality related work in China, India, Indonesia,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, The Philippines, and
Vietnam. The Resource Centre is supported by the Ford Foundation as a part of
its Global Dialogue on Sexual Health
and wellbeing. Similar centres are based in Africa,
Latin America and North America.
Over the past two years, we have been busy setting up the
The Resource Centre and developing a range of programmes to enhance scholarship,
increase access to information, and further a dialogue on sexuality issues. The
Centre houses a library with over 3000 books and material on sexuality. Our
website (www.asiasrc.org) hosts the library
catalogue, news and announcements from the region, and links to resources on
sexuality. You can
download an electronic version of In Plainspeak on our website as well as
subscribe to participate in online moderated discussions on sexuality.
Every year the
Resource Centre conducts a Regional Institute on Sexuality, Society and Culture.
This is an eight day long conceptual course on sexuality open to
participants from the region. Thus far, we have conducted two such courses, one
in India and the other in Indonesia, with over 40 participants from 11 different
countries. The 2006 course will be in Vietnam. We have also hosted seven
visiting scholars / Practiioners from China, Indonesia, Thailand, The
Phillippines, and Vietnam in India for one month each. In order to understand
what the key issues are regionally, last year in September, we convened a
Regional Consultation on Sexuality, in Indonesia. With over 25 participants from
nine countries in the region, the consultation focused on what sexuality means
in their local context, what the key concerns are, and what strategies have
worked in different country contexts. Topics discussed included sexuality and
HIV/AIDS, violence, marginalisation, legal issues, young people, words and
meanings, sex work, and abortion. For more information on our programmes and
events, please visit www.asiasrc.org.
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