State Consultation on Women Health and Reproductive Rights & Services

Post Date: Thursday, February 2, 2017

Sexual and reproductive health and rights or SRHR is the concept of human rights applied to sexuality and reproduction. The World Health Organization defines sexual health as: "Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. So the sexual health rights are the type of human rights includes the right of women to have freely control over in making decisions concerning their own sexuality, including their own sexual and reproductive health without coercion, violence or discrimination. Similarly, reproductive health addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life.

It implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safer sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. So, Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as: Reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. They also include the right of all to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence.