IT is indeed a tall claim, almost an impossible task - to set in motion the immobile-to create spectators who would continue to perform.

As women become more involved in public life and break patriarchal control in the process, they also deal with the backlash of cultural, traditional and religious reaction. Various interpretations of Muslim law are promoted by different groups in the struggle over women's rights.

Reproductive Health Matters has until this issue of the journal focused almost exclusively on secular threats to women’s reproductive rights.

In the last decade, several international and national movements have focused their attention, on the long neglected areas of women's reproductive health.

There is a growing recognition that gynaecological morbidity is an important health problem among poor women in India.