Reproduction is an elemental, life-changing common experience for much of humanity. Yet each year, more than 120 million couples have an unmet need for contraception, 80 million women have unintended pregnancies (45 million of which end in abortion), and more than half a million women are estimated to die from complications associated with pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

 

One might expect that reproductive rights would have a correspondingly important place in international human rights law and practice. However, this is not the current position. Thus far, reproductive rights have been little discussed and are often poorly understood. Many aspects of reproductive rights remain unsettled and controversial. As a result, reproductive rights have tended to occupy a marginalized position in the international human rights landscape.

 

National human rights institutions are now recognized as a major force for protection and promotion of human rights at the domestic level – in many cases helping to lessen the “implementation gap’’ between international rules and standards, and the practice of human rights on the ground. This report focuses on reproductive rights and the extent to which these rights are, or could be, integrated into the work of national human rights institutions. It analyzes the current work practices and views of these institutions, and the major challenges and risks they face in dealing effectively with the issue.