Politics, power, and sexual and reproductive health and rights: impacts and opportunities

Universal health coverage: another political space in which to expand the elimination of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights

“…Unfortunately, with SRHR being heavily politicised, 4,7 UHC discussions on the inclusion of SRHR have become a further political space in which SRHR is being contested. While this has been part of the broader politics on SRHR for some time, 7 debates have gone from the usual objections to abortion, access to modern contraceptives and comprehensive sexuality education, 1 to consistent calls by the Trump administration for the complete exclusion of any mention of SRH or SRHR. [8][9][10] The 2019 UHC declaration seeks to "ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Beijing Platform for Action" (p. 10).…”

“…7 The US leadership under the Trump administration has provided more legitimacy and grounds for a global opposition to SRHR for different governments, who have found a powerful ally in the United States due to its ability to influence the global SRHR agenda. 7 The reference to SRHR in the 2019 UHC declaration was overshadowed by a broader anti-SRHR conservative agenda and coalition-building of 18 countries involving the United States. 5 After the 2019 meeting, a joint statement by the United States on behalf of Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, explicitly stated:…”

“… 6 Therefore, inclusion of SRH services and the recognition of reproductive rights are a critical component of UHC. Unfortunately, with SRHR being heavily politicised, 4 , 7 UHC discussions on the inclusion of SRHR have become a further political space in which SRHR is being contested. While this has been part of the broader politics on SRHR for some time, 7 debates have gone from the usual objections to abortion, access to modern contraceptives and comprehensive sexuality education, 1 to consistent calls by the Trump administration for the complete exclusion of any mention of SRH or SRHR.…”

Sexual and reproductive health and rights of refugee and migrant women: gynecologists’ and obstetricians’ responsibilities

“…These gender‐based norms and structural inequalities deny women not only equal access to services, but to equal exercise of their dignity and of their citizenship rights. Lack of access to SRHR is compounded for women in humanitarian crisis, migrant, or refugee situations where lack of sensitization to their rights, and the politicization of SRHR issues, act to legitimize an inadequate government response . A disproportionate number, 61%, of maternal deaths occur in humanitarian crisis or fragile settings .…”

“…Lack of access to SRHR is compounded for women in humanitarian crisis, migrant, or refugee situations where lack of sensitization to their rights, and the politicization of SRHR issues, act to legitimize an inadequate government response. 5 A disproportionate number, 61%, of maternal deaths occur in humanitarian crisis or fragile settings. 6 However, it is important to recognize that violations of refugee and migrant women's SRHR often occur in the context of, and in correlation to, pre-existing gender-based inequality and violence.…”