India’s HPV Vaccination Policy: Gender Justice, CEDAW And Barriers To Equitable Access
- IJLLR Journal
- Jun 7
- 2 min read
Ammarah Fatema, B.A. (Liberal Arts), Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
Arya Haziyani, B.A. LLB., Symbiosis Law School, Nagpur
ABSTRACT
Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer occurring in women of India, being most common among women aged 15 - 44 years. The presence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary agent for causing cervical cancer. According to a report by Banaras Hindu University published in 2019, around 23.3% of emerging cases are diagnosed in India, with a substantial death rate of nearly a quarter of global deaths. Both men and women are carriers of this sexually transmitted virus. India has a long history with HPV vaccination, with the vaccine introduced in 2008, but it has not been incorporated into the country's universal immunisation programme. There were many ethical considerations relating to trials, which have been criticised and are in direct conflict with the principles of CEDAW, which encourages equitable health care for all women. With the coming in of CERVAVAC in 2022, the future of HPV vaccination in India seems bright, but adequate policy intervention and inclusivity are required.
Against this backdrop, this research engages with linking Gender and Health with International Law, particularly CEDAW and ICESCR. This paper addresses a significant gap in existing research, which mostly focuses on the medical side of HPV and often ignores the legal, ethical and gender justice issues linked to international human rights standards. The research is organised into three sections: section 1 examines the historical trajectory, section 2 analyses the international legal framework under CEDAW, and section 3 evaluates the issue of implementation and access. It helps in evolution and controversy surrounding the HPV vaccine, assesses whether the national implementation is in alignment with CEDAW and examines whether current strategies are adequate to eliminate cervical cancer. The research draws upon reports, statistics and various case studies on cervical cancer and HPV vaccination.
The study examines India’s HPV framework from both a theoretical and practical perspective, evaluating the responsibility of the State in the creation of a successful HPV vaccination drive. It argues that for a successful implementation of HPV vaccination in India, there is a need for HPV awareness among citizens through various means. The government policy should be created, keeping in mind inclusivity and gender neutrality, and past ethical shortcomings should be corrected by following the guidelines provided in international conventions. Only through such measures can a national HPV program succeed, introducing and ultimately eliminating cervical cancer.
Keywords: HPV vaccine, cervical cancer, CEDAW, implementation, India
