Roslyn Brooks is a valued MSI Asia Pacific donor, whose support makes a huge difference to the lives of women and girls. Here, she shares how studying medicine shaped her passion for women's rights, and why she values MSI's work so highly.
My passion for reproductive choice started… decades ago, when the women’s movement inspired greater awareness of the rights of women to have control over their reproduction and their lives.
In Australia, many doctors would not prescribe the (then new!) oral contraceptive pill to women who weren’t married. Abortion was highly restricted, so often women had dangerous ‘backyard’ abortions.
I realised unplanned pregnancy was a terrifying dilemma for many young women and girls.
When I studied medicine… I became more passionate about the rights of women to have affordable and accessible reproductive health care, including the right to safe abortion.
I undertook an excellent training course run by the Family Planning Association, where I had a lot of interactions with clients and began to hear individual stories.
In my early years of general practice, I worked in regional Australia. As the only female doctor in town, a lot of my work was in women’s health.
Again, the stories of individual women brought home not only the enormous value of safe, affordable and accessible contraception and abortion for women…
...but also the importance of well-trained and empathetic practitioners who listen without judgment, explain options clearly, and provide supportive counselling.
I first learned about MSI… during my work as a doctor. I referred women seeking abortions, contraception, counselling and support to MSI Australia (formerly Marie Stopes).
I later discovered that MSI works globally, reaching out to communities in poor or remote areas with little access to affordable family planning. I was eager to help women in countries with fewer resources and options for birth control than we have in Australia. This is incredibly important from a simple humanitarian viewpoint, in light of vast global inequities.
The areas of MSI Asia Pacific’s work that inspire me the most are… those that provide free or affordable healthcare to women in remote areas, where there may be no other family planning or women’s health services.
I worked overseas with Médecins Sans Frontiers in several countries, and I was always very happy to see MSI projects supporting local midwives to go out to remote communities. This work is so important.
I’m particularly inspired by the numerous MSI projects that train and employ local staff, and work in cooperation with local health services.
I feel motivated to continue giving to MSI because of… the impact on each woman who is supported by MSI. I cannot overstate how much reliable contraception or a safe abortion can mean for the happiness of a woman – and often for her partner and children.
Family planning and abortion has played a huge role in the struggle for women’s rights and gender equality globally. We’re still on this journey, and every bit of support matters.
I feel angry when… I continue to see the huge unmet need for reproductive healthcare, and the inequity of access globally. I’m also spurred to action by the repressive moral, social and political systems that deny women’s rights generally, and to contraception and abortion specifically.
I feel hopeful when… I learn of improvements in medications and technology, such as the Implanon, medical abortion, low-dose contraceptive pills, and more contraceptive options for men. These all work to make family planning safer and easier.
I’m also heartened by the growing awareness of gender equity and the progress of strong women’s rights movements.
Lastly, I feel incredibly hopeful when I see the work of globally active organisations like MSI that provide healthcare, train local staff, and raise awareness of the pressing need for universal reproductive healthcare.
Our work wouldn’t be possible without generous donors like Roslyn. Will you join her?