Integrating human rights into sexual and reproductive health research: moving beyond the rhetoric, what will it take to get us there?

Abstract

The integration of human rights principles in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research is often recognised to be of value. Good examples abound but lack of clarity persists as to what defines rights-inclusive SRH research. To help move the field forward, this article seeks to explore how key stakeholders responsible for funding and supporting rights in SRH research understand the strengths and weaknesses of what is being done and where, and begins to catalogue potential tools and actions for the future. Interviews with a range of key stakeholders including international civil servants, donors and researchers committed to and supportive of integrating rights into SRH research were conducted and analysed. Interviews confirmed important differences in what is understood to be SRH rights-oriented research and what it can accomplish. General barriers include lack of understanding about the importance of rights; lack of clarity as to the best approach to integration; fear of adding more work with little added benefit; as well as the lack of methodological guidance or published research methodologies that integrate rights. Suggestions include the development of a comprehensive checklist for each phase of research from developing a research statement through ultimately to publication; development of training modules and workshops; inclusion of rights in curricula; changes in journal requirements; and agreement among key funding sources to mandate the integration of rights principles in research proposals they receive. As a next step, cataloguing issues and concerns at local levels can help move the integration of human rights in SRH research from rhetoric to reality.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student’ sleep patterns, sexual activity, screen use, and food intake: A global survey

“…Unwanted teenage pregnancy has increased though it will take time for the epidemiological picture regarding teenage pregnancies to become clear [47]. It is likely that this increase will be highest in LICs/LMICs where access to sexuality education is poor and access to sexual and reproductive health services is limited by sociocultural and political factors [48,49]. Our study observed higher odds of increased sexual activities in LICs/LMICs when compared with HICs and higher odds of increased sexual activities for females.…”

Moving ahead together, on a foundation of rights-based evidence

“…At SRHM, we would like to see change for the better and feel we can play a role in closing the gaps, strengthening the amalgamation of public health and rights-based frameworks, to advance the progress of rightsbased evidence for sexual and reproductive health. The article we published this year by Gruskin and colleagues 13 and reproductive health research. As part of our "more than a journal" activities, we are also working in partnership to improve approaches for how rights-based research is conducted (see http:// www.srhm.org/south-asia-regional-hub/).…”