Reproductive and sexual rights of women Women empowerment : Who are the torchbearers for the freedom of women (women’s empowerment in all spheres of life?) “Global AID Link Journal commented- (A reputed journal on sexual behavior & Contraceptive uses amongst married and unmarried males & females in global perspective published by Global Health council; Compiling author is : Soar woldehanna The said journal quoted world class NGO Namely I.P.P.F (International Planned Parenthood) as follows:-
GUIDELINES
FOR THE SSE OF THE IPPF CHARTER ON SEXUAL AND REPROFCTIVE RIGHTS OF WOMEN
1 The right
to life
2 The right
to liberty and security of the person
3 The right
to equality and to be free from all forms of discrimination
4 The right
of privacy
5 The right
of freedom of thought
6 The right
to information and education
7 The right
to choose whether or not to marry and to plan a family
8 The right
to decide whether and when to have children
9 The right
to health care and health protection
10 The right
to benefits of scientific progress
11 The right
to freedom of Assembly and political participation
12 The right
of be free from Torture and Violence.
Unfortunately
my colleagues both medical & non medical (Professors of social science and
Indian political leaders who served the community and learned judicial friends
of my age and experience are unfortunately not beware about the “Sexual rights
and reproductive freedom of women in general)
1.
What does “Human Rights Commission” mentions
? Reproductive and sexual health care
including family planning services and information is recognized not only as a
key intervention for improving the health of women and children but also as a
human right. All individuals have the right to access choice and the benefits
of scientific progress in the selection of family planning methods. A rights
based approach to the provision of contraceptives assumes a holistic view of
clients which includes taking into account clients sexual and reproductive
health care needs and considering all appropriate eligibility criteria in
helping client choose and use a family planning method.
2. What was the concluding remark Beijing
Platform for action 1995? I, hope all of
my FB friends Have time to read the summery part of the Beijing Platform for
action 1995 which followed a long thirteen days of ICPD, 1994 held at Cairo
city which was attended by almost all political; leaders of entire world
including 3000 chif of reputed non profitable NGO’s . I, Prof. S K Pal, Kolkata
most humble present before you the summary Beijing conference designed for
women and children wellbeing. of Reproductive
rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognised in national
laws international human rights documents and other relevant consensus
documents. These rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all
couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing
and timing of their children and to have the information and mens to do so and
the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health
(para95, Beijing Platform for action 1995)
3. How does U.N.F.P.A
(United Nations Population Fund) expects as about minimal standard of sexual
rights and reproductive freedom? . I, Prof. S K Pal, Kolkata most humble
present before you the summary
1 Gaps and
failure in reproductive health care combined with wide spread discrimination
and violence against women amount to a massive violation of human rights.
2 The
international community has agreed repeatedly that reproductive health is a
right for both women and men. The challenge now is to make this right a reality
for every individual. UNFPA has developed programmes for Asia and Pacific which
including ones adolescents with emphasis on national capacity building.
4. What about INDIA so far as reproductive rights
are concerned? I, . I, Prof. S K Pal, Kolkata have a feeling that in India
women are a neglected lot from times immemorial .In marriage women’s sexual
rights are at the mercy of their husbands. In fact in many instance they are
not accepted in their husband’s families until they give birth to male
children. They have no autonomy over their own their own bodies. Women are
portrayed as sex symbols in the media. Abandoned wives and ill- informed and
poor rural girls are lured not prostitution.
2. B. What is exactly the words Reproductive
rights mean? Reproductive rights include the right to: an enjoyable and
fulfilling sexual relationship without fear of infection and disease. To
achieve this sex education of adolescents and youth is essential.
A choice as
to have or not to have children.
A caring
family planning service backed by a safe and empathetic abortion service that
treats women with dignity and respect and ensures privacy. Family planning
services must mean planning a family. If women is infertile or has repeated
abortion or still births she must be treated. If she does not want children she
must have easy access of a family planning service which gives her an option of
methods to suit various ages and circumstance in her reproductive life.
5. Let us
(My dear learned FB friends) recapitulate what “Voluntary Health Association of
India New Delhi” comments about Reproductive rights & sexual freedoms of
women.
Women should not die in childbirth they should
not be inflicted with a pregnancy they do not wan tenor should a pregnancy
inflicted on them as sexual assault or domestic rape.
The
discrimination against women in our society is well- known. The Asian Human
Development Report recognized greater existence of this pathology in the Indian
subcontinent than in other parts of the world. This is reflected in the
worsening of the 1) sex ratio 2) the continued high rate of maternal mortality
(even if there has been a marginal decrease) and 3) the number of deaths of
women due to abortion. Not only is there this substitution of abortion for
contraception but in the absence of safe abortion services many women face the
numerous complications including loss of their lives.
1.
B.
What are Sexual and Reproductive Rights of women- the largest Int. conference
Ie. ICPD (Int. Conference on population development) Programme of Action 1994
at Cairo defined at the last day of 13 days long conference women in general
International
understanding about sexual and reproductive rights has broadened considerably
in recent years. The ICPD Programme of Action and the Beijing Platform for
Action recognize sexual and reproductive rights as sustainable integral and
indivisible parts of universal human rights.
Sexual and
reproductive rights are also a cornerstone of development. Attaining the goals
of sustainable equitable development requires that people are able to exercise
control over their sexual and reproductive lives. The most important sexual and
reproductive rights include:
Reproductive
and sexual 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.
The neglect
of sexual and reproductive health and rights lies at the root of many problems
the international community has identified as in need of urgent action. These
include gender based violence HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality. Teenage pregnancy
abandoned children and rapid population growth. This massive denial of human
rights causes the death of millions of people every year many more are
permanently injured or infected. Most are in developing countries- and most are
women. Sexual rights and health are not just an individual concern. Rather they
can have direct impact on the economy of a country – as clearly evidenced in
the African countries hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic
6. What is the opinion of UN about Sexual and
Reproductive Rights of women? I, hope you are aware. However, for quick
recapitulation ” The United Nations conferences of the 1990s” reached an unanimous agreement on the following key concepts and
definitions:-
Reproductive
health is a state of complete physical mental and social well being (not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity) in all matters related to the reproductive
system and to its functions and processes. (FWCW platform for Action paragraph
94 ICPD Programme of Action paragraph 7.2)
7. Openion of FWCW Platform for Action paragraph
94 ;ICPD Programme of Action Para graph 7.2...
Sexual health means that people should be able to have safe and
satisfying sex lives. Gender relations should be equaled responsible and
mutually respectful. Sexual health encompasses behaviors essential to
countering sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Sexual health aims at the enhancement of life and personal
relations and sexual health services should not consist merely of counselling
and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases.(FWCW
Platform for Action paragraph 94 ;ICPD Programme of Action Para graph 7.2 )
Reproductive
rights include the basic right 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. It also includes their right to make decisions
concerning reproduction free of discrimination coercion and violence s
expressed in human rights documents. (FWCW Platform for Action paragraph 95)
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