Café BE-MORE : Midwifery, Obstetrics, Reproduction, Empowerment A low-threshold -Access to Information Space for Refugee Women

Initial situation

SRHR are fundamental to women’s well-being and quality of life. Ensuring access to sexual and reproductive healthcare contributes significantly to advancing social justice, promoting gender equality, and fostering economic development—both at the individual and societal level. Refugee women commonly face multiple obstacles in accessing these essential services. 

Goals

The Be-MORE pilot project aims to improve access to SRHR by establishing a point of contact within local asylum structures, making it directly accessible to the affected women. The pilot project is planned to last 18 months to demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. The project also creates an innovative practice model that integrates research, teaching, and clinical practice. 

Approach

Twice a week for half a day, a protected low-threshold access space is created at “Tiefenau”, the collective refugee accommodation facility in the city of Berne. This gives women living in the facility access to informal conversations with BFH midwives on topics related to SRHR. Selected topics related to SRHR are addressed in greater depth through monthly workshops. Interpretation into mother tongue languages will mostly be possible. When required the midwives can facilitate referrals to health care specialists within the field of SRHR. 

Other information