Sexual and Reproductive Health Framework - UNFPA

Diego Goldberg/Pixel Press/UNFPA2. gender129. Gender inequality and discrimination are at theroot of why so many women and adolescent girlsare still unable to exercise one of the most crucialhuman rights for their empowerment and qualityof life: their reproductive rights. Gender stereotypesand roles are also why so many adolescent boysand men remain on the fringes of SRH policies andprogrammes, despite their key role in this realm.130. Gender-related barriers to reproductive healthand rights operate at various levels. These factorsrange from lower literacy rates and educationallevels of women; limited access to informationabout prevention or about legal entitlements toservices; limited power and resources to negotiatefamily planning and condom use or use of services;mistrust of health-care providers and delays inseeking help because of disrespectful or judgementaltreatment; the low value placed on a woman’slife, from the highest levels of policymaking tothe community and household levels. Addressingthese issues through the gender framework willincrease the ability of women to access and use SRHinformation and services.131. Other barriers, including gender-based violence andthe inability of women to negotiate condom use orother contraceptives in abusive relations, in or outsidemarriage; the links between sexual violence and HIV,especially among young women in high prevalencecountries; and violence during pregnancy -- all haverepercussions for the health of women. These areall addressed in terms of policy and advocacy inthe gender framework. At the same time, the SRHframework provides the opportunity for integratingscreening and referrals for women who have beensubjected to gender-based violence. Areas where SRHand gender intersect include the following:(a) Capacity development, including building aknowledge base, for gender mainstreaming intopopulation, development and SRH policies andprogrammes, PRSs and MDGs, and for genderauditing and budgeting;(b) Establishment of and/or support formultisectoral mechanisms at the communitylevel to prevent and manage gender-basedviolence, and linkage of these to the provision ofSRH information and services including focusingon mental health as an integral aspect of SRH;(c) Advocacy to strengthen public awareness ofthe importance of reproductive rights withina broad-based rights approach to humandevelopment;(d) Advocacy to enrol and maintain girls in schooland to access non-discriminatory schooling toensure long-term success in improving SRH;32MAKING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH A REALITY FOR ALL