State of World Population 2012 - UNFPA Haiti

to—the social, political and economic factorsthat affect people differently because of whothey are, where they live and what they do.One additional contribution of the ICPD:Whereas earlier programmes had treatedfamily planning as a standalone activity, theProgramme of Action situated family planningin the context of broader sexual and reproductivehealth programmes. Reproductive rightsrest not only on the recognition of the rightof couples and individuals to plan their family,but on “the right to attain the higheststandard of sexual and reproductive health. Italso includes their right to make decisions concerningreproduction free of discrimination,coercion and violence, as expressed in humanrights documents” (UNFPA, 1994).By reducing worry about unintendedpregnancy, family planning can contributeto building relationships between partnersand ensuring a satisfying and safe sex life.Respecting, protecting and fulfilling people’shuman rights make it easier for people toachieve the full benefit of investments infamily planning (Cottingham, Germainand Hunt 2012).International commitmentsSexual and reproductive health and reproductiverights do not represent a new set of rights butare rights already recognized implicitly or explicitlyin national laws, international human rightsdocuments and other relevant United Nationsconsensus documents. Some of these internationalnorms rest on broader human rights thatalso underpin the right to sexual and reproductivehealth, including family planning.Reproductive rights encompass both freedomsand entitlements involving civil, political, economic,social and cultural rights. The right todecide the number and spacing of children isintegral to the reproductive rights frameworkand is therefore directly related to other basichuman rights, including:• The right to life;• The right to liberty and security of person;• The right to health, including sexual and reproductive health;• The right to consent to marriage and to equality in marriage;• The right to privacy;• The right to equality and non-discrimination;• The right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, ordegrading treatment or punishment;• The right to education, including access to sexuality education;• The right to participate in the conduct of public affairs and the right tofree, active and meaningful participation;• The right to seek, impart and receive information and to have freedomof expression;• The right to benefit from scientific progress.(Center for Reproductive Rights, 2009; InternationalPlanned Parenthood Federation, 1996).These rights are derived from numerousinternational and regional treaties andconventions. As such they reflect a commonunderstanding of fundamental human rights.These and other human rights related to reproductiverights and their sources are laid outin Reproductive Rights are Human Rights, by theCenter for Reproductive Rights (2009).Responding to the realities of gender inequalitiesand the nature of reproductive physiology,a number of human rights documents referencethe special challenges and discriminationwomen and girls face. The human rights ofmost direct relevance to gender inequalityinclude the right to be free from discriminatorypractices that especially harm women and girls,and the right to be free from sexual coercionand gender-based violence.THE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 20123