Reproductive Rights
- Photo by Eileen Delhi, Flickr Creative Commons
Reproduction is a fundamental, life-changing experience for the vast majority of humanity.
However, each year 80 million women have unintended pregnancies (45 million of which end in abortion) and more than half a million women are estimated to die from complications associated with pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
Around 340 million people acquire new sexually transmitted infections.
In every part of the world, women and adolescents bear the brunt of sexual and reproductive ill-health. Globally, it is women and girls in developing countries who are at most risk of reproductive-related disease, disability and death.
The importance of reproductive rights in meeting international development goals has been widely recognised. However, reproductive rights are valuable ends in themselves and essential to the enjoyment of other fundamental rights.
Special emphasis has been given to the reproductive rights of women and adolescent girls, and to the importance of sex education and reproductive health programmes.
Attaining the goals of sustainable, equitable development requires that individuals are able to exercise control over their sexual and reproductive lives.
This includes the rights to:
- reproductive health as a component of overall health, throughout the life cycle, for both men and women
- reproductive decision-making, including voluntary choice in marriage, family formation and determination of the number, timing and spacing of one's children and the right to have access to the information and means needed to exercise voluntary choice
- equality and equity for men and women, to enable individuals to make free and informed choices in all spheres of life, free from discrimination based on gender
- sexual and reproductive security, including freedom from sexual violence and coercion, and the right to privacy.
Role of the APF
National human rights institutions (NHRIs) are uniquely placed to contribute positively to human rights promotion and protection, especially in areas that are relatively new, sensitive and prone to misunderstanding.
A joint project between the APF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) aims to support NHRIs in the region to more effectively integrate reproductive rights into their ongoing work.
The first stage of this project was a study of 15 APF members (published April 2011) that examined how NHRIs in the Asia Pacific region have addressed the issue to date; what obstacles they have encountered; and how reproductive rights can be more effectively integrated into their work.
According to the report, NHRIs can help rights-holders claim the rights to which they are entitled; monitor and report on the implementation of rights; educate officials and the community about reproductive rights; and sometimes even contribute to the delivery of services.
They can also play an influential role through their expertise in “initiating difficult conversations”.
The report features innovations and good practices in relation to education and awareness raising; advice and advocacy; identifying and responding to violations; overcoming cultural and religious resistance; and NHRI working methods and procedures.
Regional consultation
A regional consultation, bringing together representatives from APF member institutions, UNFPA and the APF Secretariat, was held in June 2011 to discuss the report’s findings.
It also provided an opportunity for APF members to identify concrete steps they could take to better promote and protect reproductive rights in their work.
Some common suggestions included:
- updating their complaint systems to include a specific category for reproductive rights
- providing training to build awareness and skills among staff and Commissioners
- forging partnerships with experts and groups already working on the issue in their respective countries
- drawing government and community attention to the issue.
Resources from the conference are included in the Downloads box on this page.
Consultation follow-up action
Since the regional consultation in June 2011, APF members have undertaken the following activities.
National Human Rights Commission of Nepal
- Conducted a presentation for staff on the issues discussed during the regional consultation. See the presentation.
Palestinian Independent Commission on Human Rights
- Held workshops on reproductive rights for staff in the West Bank and Gaza, facilitated by the UNFPA Palestine country office. Read a report of the workshops and proposed recommendations.
Jordan National Centre for Human Rights
- In partnership with UNDP, organised a three-day training workshop for physicians in the public and private sector. Read the report.
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
- Provided training and support to assist non-government organisations advocate to Government on policy reforms; updated the Commission’s compliant handling database to capture data about reproductive rights; and held briefings for all staff and Commissioners. Read the report.
More information
United Nations Population Fund
Musahwah, a global movement for equality and justice in the Muslim family
Center for Reproductive Rights
