State of World Population 2012 - UNFPA Haiti

“Everyone has the right to education, which shall be directedto the full development of human resources, and humandignity and potential, with particular attention to women andthe girl child. Education should be designed to strengthenrespect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,including those relating to population and development.”— ICPD Programme of Action, Principle 10.human rights, including the right to health, forall without discrimination. They achieve thisthrough strategies that contribute to removingobstacles and the adoption of positive measuresthat compensate for the factors that systematicallyprevent specific groups from accessingquality services.t Mother and child,Kiribati.©UNFPA/Ariela Zibiahobligations (United Nations Practitioner’sPortal on Human Rights Based Approaches toProgramming).The practical expressions of the right to familyplanning can be divided into freedoms and entitlementsto be enjoyed by individuals, and theobligations of the State (Center for ReproductiveRights and UNFPA, 2010). The freedoms andentitlements of individuals are strongly dependenton States’ obligations to ensure an equalopportunity and the progressive realization ofFreedoms and entitlements of individualsThe right to family planning entitles individualsand couples to access a range of quality familyplanning goods and services, including the fullrange of methods for men and women.The right to family planning informationand sexuality education is central to people’sentitlements. Individuals must have access tosexual and reproductive health-related information,whether through comprehensive sexualityeducation programmes in schools, campaigns,or counselling and training. This information“should be scientifically accurate, objective, andfree of prejudice and discrimination” (Center forReproductive Rights, 2008).The third element of the right to familyplanning is informed consent and freedom fromdiscrimination, coercion, or violence. Womenand men, girls and boys, must be able tomake informed choices that are free fromcoercion, discrimination, or violence (Centerfor Reproductive Rights and UNFPA 2010;International Federation of Gynecology andObstetrics Committee for the Study of EthicalAspects of Human Reproduction and Women’sHealth, 2009).Obligations of the StateThe Programme of Action of the ICPD affirmsthat “States should take all appropriate measuresto ensure, on the basis of equality of menand women, universal access to health-careservices, including those related to reproductive8 CHAPTER 1: THE RIGHT TO FAMILY PLANNING