The Interplay Of Law, Culture, And Medicine In Shaping Women's Reproductive Rights

Gauri Sharma, B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat

ABSTRACT

The spectrum of women's reproductive rights encompasses a variety of elements, which may include some or all of the following: initiatives advocating for abortion rights, the availability of birth control methods, freedom from coerced sterilization and contraception, the right to access good-quality affordable reproductive healthcare, right to sexual education enabling free and well-informed decisions concerning reproduction. Furthermore, the scope of reproductive rights includes comprehensive education regarding sexually transmitted infections and diverse dimensions of human sexuality, the right to menstrual health and protection against injurious practices such as female genital mutilation. The evolution of reproductive rights commenced as a distinct facet within the realm of human rights, originating from the United Nations' 1968 International Conference on Human Rights, which culminated in the issuance of the non- binding Proclamation of Tehran. Subsequently, in 1994, at the International Conference on Population and Development (I.C.P.D.) held in Cairo, the non- binding "Cairo Programme of Action" was adopted, which was followed by many declarations and conferences dealing with human reproductive rights, sexual autonomy, reproductive health, gender identity, sexual violence, etc.