Sexual and reproductive health: right not privilege

Delia Barcelona, Lindsay Edouard

Abstract

Despite the prominence of international discourses on sexual and reproductive health and rights, much remains to be done to meet both needs and wants of individuals, couples and families. Socioeconomic disparities and geographic differentials, compounded by inappropriate policies besides resource constraints, hbave hampered the achievements of these rights to the extent that, in many jurisdictions, access to quality sexual and reproductive health services continues to be a privilege for some as opposed to a right for all. A rights-based approach, accompanied by appropriate policy formulation and sustained advocacy for resource mobilisation, can promote equity through community acceptance and individual behaviour change.

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