IPPF recognizes and believes that all persons have a right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and, therefore, commits itself to the following:1

9.1 All persons have the right to the highest possible quality in health care including all care related to their sexual and reproductive health.2

9.2 All persons have the right to comprehensive health care services including access to all methods of fertility regulation including safe abortion and diagnosis and treatment for infertility and sexually transmitted infections including Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

9.3 All persons, and in particular the girl child and women, have the right to protection from traditional practices which are harmful to health.3

9.4 All women have the right to pregnancy and infertility counselling which empowers them to make their own decisions, based on information impartially presented.

9.5 All persons have the right to sexual and reproductive health care services as part of primary health care, which are comprehensive, accessible, both financially and geographically, private and confidential and, which pay due regard to the dignity and comfort of that person.

9.6 All women have the right to appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and post-natal health care, as well as adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.4

9.7 All persons have the right to the protection of health, and safety in working conditions, including the safeguarding of the function of reproduction.5

9.8 All working mothers have the right to be accorded paid maternity leave, or maternity leave with adequate social security benefits.6

AND further commits itself to taking all steps to ensure the attainment of the following rights:7

9.9 Every person has the right to sexual and reproductive health care including the following rights:

Information to know about the benefits and availability of sexual and reproductive health services and to know their rights in this regard
Access to obtain services regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation, marital status, age, religious or political beliefs, ethnicity or disability
Choice to decide freely on whether and how to control their fertility and which method to use
Safety to be able to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy, disease and from violence
Privacy to have a private environment during counselling and services
Confidentiality to be assured that any personal information will remain confidential
Dignity to be treated with respect, empathy, courtesy, consideration and attentiveness
Comfort to feel comfortable when obtaining services
Continuity to receive sexual and reproductive health services and supplies for as long as needed
Opinions to freely express views on the services provided

Notes
1. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966, Art. 12.1: “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”

Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, Art. 24: “States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services.”

Ibid, Art. 24.2: “States Parties shall pursue full implementation of this right and, in particular, shall take appropriate measures: (a) To diminish infant and child mortality; (b) To ensure the provision of necessary medical assistance and health care to all children with emphasis on the development of primary health care; (c) To combat disease and malnutrition, including within the framework of primary health care, through, inter alia, the application of readily available technology and through the provision of adequate nutritious foods and clean drinking water, taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution; (d) To ensure appropriate pre-natal and post-natal health care for mothers; (e) To ensure that all segments of society, in particular parents and children, are informed, have access to education and are supported in the use of basic knowledge of child health and nutrition, the advantages of breastfeeding, hygiene and environmental sanitation and the prevention of accidents; (f) To develop preventive health care, guidance for parents and family planning education and services.”

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979, Art. 12.1: “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning.”

Ibid, Art. 14.2: “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, that they participate in and benefit from rural development and, in particular, shall ensure to such women the right ... (b) To have access to adequate health care facilities, including information, counselling and services in family planning.”

2.  UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action definition of reproductive health.

3.  See also the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, Art. 24.3: “States Parties shall take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolishing traditional practices prejudicial to the health of children.”

Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979, Art. 2: “States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women and, to this end, undertake: ... (f) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women.”

4. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979, Art. 12.2: “...States Parties shall ensure to women appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.” Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989, Art. 24.2: see ref. 1. above.

5. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, 1979, Art. 11.1: “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of employment in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, the same rights in particular: ... (f) The right to protection of health and to safety in working conditions, including the safeguarding of the function of reproduction.”

6. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966, Art: 10.2: “Special protection should be accorded to mothers during a reasonable period before and after childbirth. During such periods working mothers should be accorded paid leave or leave with adequate social security benefits.”

7. Huezo, C M; Briggs, C: Medical and Service Delivery Guidelines for Family Planning. London: International Planned Parenthood Federation, 1992, Chapter 1.

The right can be used to address issues relating to:

• Access to a full range of quality sexual and reproductive health services
• Access to health professionals
• The prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS
• Health rights of refugees
• Restrictive abortion laws, especially where continuing the pregnancy would be harmful for the physical or mental health of the woman

Facts & figures

In many countries of Europe and in North America 99 per cent of all births are attended by skilled personnel. This figure is 47 per cent for Africa and 59 per cent for Asia.1

Ninety-nine per cent of HIV-positive people in sub-Saharan Africa who need HIV treatment do not have access.2

Worldwide, some 130 million girls and young women have undergone female genital mutilation, with an additional 12 million at risk each year.3

Among countries surveyed by the Demographic Health Survey, women in Chad know of an average of 1.4 contraceptive methods while in Bangladesh, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Jordan, and Peru women are aware of an average of nine methods.4

Fifteen per cent of all complaints accepted under Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act were related to pregnancy discrimination, predominantly in the workplace.5

1 UNFPA (2002) The State of World Population pp72-74
2 Piot, P., UNAIDS Executive Director (22 September 2003) New York Times
3 UNFPA (2000) The State of World Population 2000 p15
4 John Hopkins University (2003) Population Reports Vol 31 No. 2 Series M, Number 17
5 Attorney-General, Australia (25 August 1999) News release