Reproductive Justice Reading Retreat

Reproductive justice (RJ), reproductive rights, and reproductive health are often used interchangeably. While these concepts do not intentionally contradict one another, they do however hold different commitments, approaches, and actions. Throughout this reading retreat we will attempt to tackle two questions: What is Reproductive Justice? And can a Reproductive Justice analysis be a befitting framework in approaching many of our varied struggles in Lebanon?

As we get into the origin and history of this framework, and distinguish it from reproductive health and rights, we will extend it across over a dozen core economic and sociopolitical struggles and issues in Lebanon; from environmental justice, to citizenship, borders, immigration, refuge, violence, access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, sexual orientations, gender identities, and disability. We should find that the possibilities of reproductive justice are as abundant as the reproductive oppressions faced by different communities, groups, and people. Reproductive Justice may prove to be the missing framework that is desperately needed in order to forge cross-movement solidarities and oppose state tactics of divisiveness.

This is the first time we hold this reading retreat - it is a pilot to many more Reproductive Justice Reading Retreats coming ahead! We hope you take a leap of faith with us, and give us your genuine feedback throughout and after the retreat.

Our objective is to understand RJ through the below themes:
1- Home sweet home: RJ in private
2- This land is my land: geopolitical mapping of RJ
3- The body
4- The clinic: medicalizing reproduction and our bodies
5- The spaces we create within RJ movements

Retreat date: Evening of Friday 30 October - evening of Sunday 1st November

Location: We will be hosted in a hotel 30 min away from Beirut (details to be announced once you're selected).

Costs: Free of charge - your transportation to and from the hotel, accommodation, and meals will be covered by The A Project - donations are always welcome for more retreats to happen!

Covid19 precautions: Each participant will have their own room to minimize the sharing of spaces, masks and antiseptics will be distributed regularly, and distancing will be maintained at all time.

Taking part in our retreats is one of the ways we can get to know you better and that you can become a member of our group.