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Our Mission

The mission of NLIRH is to ensure the fundamental human right to reproductive health and justice for Latinas, their families and their communities through public education, community mobilization and policy advocacy.

Breaking News

HPV vaccine mandate creates barrier for immigrant women

In July 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) quietly added Gardasil, a vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), to their list of required vaccinations for immigrants applying to adjust their immigration status or for visas to enter the U.S. HPV is a sexually-transmitted viral infection and is the leading cause of cervical cancer.  Implemented last month, immigrant girls and young women between the ages of 11 and 26 are now required to receive the vaccine.  The National Coalition for Immigrant Woman’s Rights (NCIWR), a coalition that supports and promotes reproductive justice for immigrant women and their families, strongly objects to this mandate. The new requirement violates a woman’s basic right to self–determination, creates additional barriers for immigrant families seeking adjustment of status, and unfairly forces immigrant women to subject their bodies to a new treatment with known side effects. 

 

The HPV vaccination requirement is essentially a surcharge applied only to young immigrant women that will effectively block them from immigrating to the U.S. or becoming U.S. citizens. Gardasil is the most expensive vaccine on the market, costing a person nearly $500.  The vaccine is given in three-shot doses, costing $162 per dose.  This is and can be a lot of money for women seeking adjustment of immigration status.  For example, a woman with two daughters of vaccination age would have to come up with almost $1,000 to cover these costs. 

 

If the true intent of USCIS is to look out for the health of immigrant girls and young women, then there are far more just ways of going about it.  HPV is easily treated if it is detected early.  Therefore, the logical solution is for USCIS to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to make pap smears more accessible and affordable to immigrant girls and women since that is the most effective way to detect abnormal cell growth that could lead to cervical cancer.

 

More information at Nuestra Vida, Nuestra Voz.


Upcoming Events

3rd Annual Latina Health Summit

9:00-5:30 p.m.

Mi Casa Resource Center

360 Acoma St.

Registration $5

Ready for a day full of activism, awesome workshops and opportunities to meet other Latinas like you? This will be the best Latina Health Summit to date with our keynote speaker Christy C. Road and great workshops and resources from our entire community. Visit COLOR's website at www.colorlatina.org for a list of workshops and the LHS program.  Register by downloading a registration form from COLOR's website or by contacting Kenia at 303-393-0382 or kenia@colorlatina.org.  Registration is also available at the door. 

 

COLOR's 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

6:00-8:00 p.m.

Mi Casa Resource Center

360 Acoma St.

Tickets $25

Join COLOR as we celebrate 10 years of activism for Latina reproductive justice!  Tickets are just $25 and include live entertainment by Jazz del Barrio, appetizers by Buen Provecho Catering, a drink, and great company.  Our anniversary celebration will include the world premier of a film directed by Miriam Madrid documenting COLOR's history. To RSVP contact me (Jacy) at 303-393-0382 or email jacy@colorlatina.org.  Tickets will also be available at the door.  

If you are not able to join us on Saturday night, please make a donation to support COLOR's work to organize a sisterhood of Latinas through education and advocacy for reproductive rights and quality healthcare. Donations can be made online at www.colorlatina.org or by US Mail to COLOR, P.O. Box 201061, Denver, CO 80220.

 

Last updated 10/01/08

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