Mains Marathon

• Introduce the answer by briefly writing about the Sexual and reproductive rights (SRR).
• Mention the challenges in the realization of these rights and how women/women’s organizations can play a vital role in ensuring SRR for themselves.
• Conclude suitably.

Answer

Sexual and reproductive rights (SRR) include the rights to decide freely and responsibly on matters related to one’s sexuality and reproduction, such as Sexual rights, access to safe and legal abortion, contraception, maternal health care, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, and protection from gender-based violence and discrimination.

• SRR are also pronounced by the Supreme court in its various judgements recognized them as a Fundamental rights.

However, the realization of SRR in India faces many challenges. Some of these challenges are:

• High maternal mortality and morbidity due to lack of access to quality maternal health care, especially for rural, poor and marginalized women.
• High unmet need for contraception and high incidence of unsafe abortion due to lack of availability, affordability and acceptability of contraceptive methods and abortion services.
• High prevalence of STIs and HIV among women due to lack of awareness, testing and treatment facilities, stigma and discrimination, and gender inequality.
• High rates of child marriage, early pregnancy and adolescent fertility due to socio-cultural norms, poverty, lack of education and empowerment of girls.
• High levels of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, sexual violence, female foeticide, female infanticide and trafficking, due to patriarchal attitudes, gender stereotypes and impunity.
• Gender based population control measures like Sex-selective abortion, infanticide, neglect, abandonment, or adoption of female children are also the some of many gender-biased measures to control the population in India.

Women/women’s organizations can play a vital role in ensuring SRR for themselves by:

• Advocating for legal and policy reforms that uphold SRR as human rights and ensure accountability of the state and other duty-bearers.
• Raising awareness and sensitization among women and girls, men and boys, communities and service providers about SRR and their importance for health and development.
• Providing information, education and counselling on SRR issues and services to women and girls, especially those who are vulnerable or marginalized.
• Providing or facilitating access to SRR services such as contraception, abortion, maternal health care, STI/HIV testing and treatment etc. in a safe, affordable and respectful manner.
• Challenging gender norms and stereotypes that undermine SRR and promote gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.
• Building networks and alliances with other civil society organizations, media, academia, human rights bodies etc. to amplify their voices and influence decision-making processes.

Some of the recent developments related to SRR in India are:

• The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021 that increased the legal limit for abortion from 20 weeks to 24 weeks for certain categories of women such as rape survivors, minors etc.
• The launch of Mission Shakti by the Uttar Pradesh government that aims to empower women by providing them with various schemes related to education, health, safety etc.
• The launch of a national helpline number (181) for women in distress by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.