State of World Population 2012 - UNFPA Haiti

1 Expand the reach of familyplanning and improve servicesby adopting a humanrights-based approach to healthFamily planning must be grounded incomprehensive sexual and reproductivehealth programmes. A human rights-basedapproach to family planning entails farmore than solely protecting the right toaccess family planning services. The closerelationship between the right to chooseif, when and how many children to haveand other aspects of people’s sexual andreproductive lives requires a broad approachto services.Governments should monitor for andeliminate any use of incentives, targetsor fee structures that incentivize healthcare providers to advocate for adoption ofspecific methods, or for incentives to usecontraception. Service delivery itself mustmeet human rights standards, and barriers touse must be acknowledged as human rightsviolations. Poor people with limited schoolingare most vulnerable to misunderstandingsand misinformation about how contraceptiveswork and how their choices may be directed.these constraints directly as part of their effortto ensure the right to family planning.Recognize that men and boys are pivotal torealizing women’s right to family planningand their own rights as well. As a humanright, family planning is relevant to every personand all potential parents, both female andmale. Family planning is especially importantto women and their health and well-being,and it is also of great interest and value tomen. The sexual and reproductive health fieldhas an opportunity to encourage men’s fullerengagement in family planning. Men andboys can help ensure women’s right to familyplanning by being supportive partners, usingcontraception, avoiding violence and promotinggender equality. They have important roles toplay in transforming gender roles and norms inways that make it easier for everyone to achievetheir rights.tA bus stop in Mumbai,India.©Panos/Mark HenleyGo “beyond family planning” to addressthe social and economic obstacles tosexual and reproductive health. Womenand sometimes men must often overcomeentrenched gender norms in order to exercisetheir right to family planning. Ensuringwomen’s access to family planning shouldbe supported by activities that address theirsocial circumstances directly and enhance theirdecision-making, mobility, autonomy andaccess to resources. Programmes must addressTHE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 201299