State of World Population 2012 - UNFPA Haiti

CHAPTERTHREEChallenges in extendingaccess to everyoneA large and unsatisfied desire exists for family planning around the world amongpeople of many ages, ethnic groups and places of residence. Nations vary greatlyin their ability to help their populations fulfil this desire and uphold individuals’rights. In many countries national legislation exists to translate international rightscommitments into reality (Robison and Ross, eds, 2007). But in far too manysettings, the rights of some—not all—are guaranteed only in principle.tBrenda, 16, (left)and her older sisterAtupele, 18, (right)had to drop outof school becausetheir family couldnot afford the fees.Both are now youngmothers.©Lindsay Mgbor/UK Departmentfor InternationalDevelopmentDespite a range of legal protections, barriers toaccess—and to rights—persist. Some barriersare related to costs and affordability. Others arerelated to difficulties in making quality suppliesand services reliably available in remoteareas or to the distances individuals must travelto obtain family planning. Other obstaclesare related to social norms, customs or genderinequality. And still others are related to policyor legislative environments.Many groups, therefore, are not able toexercise their right to decide whether, whenand under what conditions to have children.The challenge is often related to direct andindirect discrimination and the unequalimplementation of existing legislation, policiesand programming.Worldwide, specific sub-populations face thegreatest challenges in accessing the informationand services they need to plan their families. Asa result, access to family planning is more akinto a privilege enjoyed by some rather than auniversal right exercised by all.Confronting social and economicbarriers to family planningThe United Nations Common Understandingon a Human Rights-Based Approachemphasizes the importance of building thecapacities of individuals to claim their rightsas well as of duty-bearers to meet theirobligations, including service provision.Consequently increased access and use ofbasic family planning services require thedevelopment of capacities for empowerment,in particular of marginalized and discriminatedrights-holders, and capacities for duty-bearersresponsiveness and accountability. Many variedinstitutions can and do address these barriers tothe realization of the right to family planning.Social, cultural and economic factors canenable or impede the realization of rightsincluding access to and provision of familyplanning information and services. Thesefactors may mean that ethnicity, age, maritalstatus, refugee status, sex, disability, poverty,mental health and other characteristics areTHE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 201239