Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming - UNFPA -

1. Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming- UNFPA - SESSION 4: Reproductive Health

2. Session Overview • Introduction to UNFPA’s work in sexual and reproductive health • Reproductive health and culture • Reproductive health and the MDGs • ICPD and reproductive rights • Definition of reproductive rights • Examples of UNFPA’s work in sexual and reproductive health • Introduction to the case study • Conclusions

3. Introduction • UNFPA: • is the leading UN agency on promoting sexual and reproductive health • spends the majority of its resources on programming in this area • Advancing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights is essential to achieving ICPD goals, and, ultimately, to addressing the roots of poverty. • UNFPA’s goal in this area is universal access to reproductive health

4. Reproductive Health and Culture • Essential to account for culture when supporting sexual and reproductive health programmes • Intersections between human rights, gender and culture greatly emphasized in area of sexual and reproductive health • Cultural beliefs and attitudes have enormous impact on sexual and reproductive health choices • Working from within a culture is essential • working with faith-based organizations, religious leaders, religious NGOs, cultural leaders, etc.

5. Reproductive Health, Gender • In order to make universal access to sexual and reproductive health a reality, it is essential to focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment

6. Reproductive Health and the MDGs • Importance of reproductive health for achieving the MDGs recognized at the 2005 World Summit with the addition of a new target on universal access to reproductive health by 2015 under MDG 5 (improve maternal health)

7. ICPD & Reproductive Rights • ICPD Programme of Action articulated and affirmed idea that reproductive rights embrace rights established in national laws and earlier international human rights documents and other consensus documents

8. Reproductive Rights • “Reproductive rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international laws and international human rights documents and other consensus documents. These rights rest on the recognition of the basic rights of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also includes the right to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence, as expressed in human rights documents.” — ICPD Programme of Action, para. 7.3

9. Examples of UNFPA’s Reproductive Health Work (1) • Supporting governments in their implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, tracking progress and monitoring results • Working with civil society, including faith-based organizations (FBOs), to advocate for and support the advancement of ICPD goals

10. Examples of UNFPA’s Reproductive Health Work (2) • Focus on the ‘life-cycle approach’ to sexual and reproductive health • Includes helping countries to: • respond to adolescents’ and young people’s SRH needs • prevent maternal mortality and morbidity • provide women and men (including elderly women and men) with the sexual and reproductive health information, goods and services they require

11. Examples of UNFPA’s Reproductive Health Work (3) • Invests in addressing cross-thematic and intersecting areas of: • population, poverty and development • reproductive rights, including HIV/AIDS • issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment within poverty reduction strategies • UNFPA is designated lead agency for provision of: • HIV prevention-related information and education • condom programming • HIV prevention for young people outside schools • prevention efforts targeting excluded groups, which includes leading the UN response in the area of sex work (UNAIDS Division of Labour)

12. Examples of UNFPA’s Reproductive Health Work (4) • Lead agencyfor providing sexual and reproductive health services in emergency response

13. Reproductive Rights: Standards and Obligations Reproductive Rights Reproductive rights encompass Progressive Realization Freedoms Entitlements Vulnerabilities

14. Reproductive Rights: Standards and Obligations 3AQ Respect Legal Framework Fulfil Protect

15. Principles Universality Equality and Non-discrimination Participation and Inclusion Interdependence and Indivisibility Accountability and Rule of Law

16. Example: Indivisibility • How can you implement the principle of indivisibility when programming in reproductive health?

17. Example: Interrelatedness & Interdependence • How can you implement the principles of interdependence and interrelatedness in your reproductive health programme?

18. Example: Universality • How can you implement the principle of universality in your SRH programme?

19. Example: Participation • How can you ensure attention to the principle of participation throughout your SRH programme?

20. Example: Equality and Non-discrimination • How can you ensure that your SRH programme does not discriminate?

21. Example: Accountability • How can you ensure accountability in your SRH programme? • Accountability of the government? • UNFPA’s accountability? (To whom?) • Accountability of service providers?

22. Example: the 3AQ • How can you ensure attention to the standards of: • availability • accessibility • acceptability • quality

23. Conclusion: The Value Added of a HRBA in a SRH Programme (1) • Grounding reproductive health programming in a human rights framework clarifies the obligations and responsibilities of duty-bearers to protect, promote and fulfil reproductive rights. • Impressing upon a government the fact that it has legal obligations to provide access to reproductive health services is useful when dealing with the sensitive issues that fall under UNFPA’s mandate in this area.

24. Conclusion: The Value Added of a HRBA in a SRH Programme (2) • By encouraging the participation and inclusion of marginalized groups, a HRBA helps to ensure that sexual and reproductive health goods, information and services are tailored to the needs of these groups. • Implementing the principles of equality and non-discrimination will shed light on groups whose sexual and reproductive health has been particularly neglected. Focusing on the most neglected groups is essential if the global goal of universal access to reproductive health is ever to be attained.

25. Conclusion: The Value Added of a HRBA in a SRH Programme (3) • It is important to keep in mind the human rights principles of universality and inalienability, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness • The emphasis on accountability and Rule of Law promotes the creation and implementation of national laws and policies that advance reproductive health and rights.

26. Conclusion: The Value-Added of a HRBA in a SRH Programme (5) 7. Byadopting a HRBA, the message is conveyed that one has the right not only to SRH services, but to quality services, and that these services should not just be made available, but should also be accessible and acceptable to all groups.