Reproductive rights in the 21st Century

thesilentsexismproject

Jul 31

Source: Global Citizen, https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/biden-win-womens-reproductive-rights/

By: Visakha G

Reproductive rights are the rights of individuals to decide if and when they want to reproduce thus help them gain autonomy in matters of reproduction. They mainly include rights regarding abortion and extends to as wide as reproductive health. And so reproductive rights are basic fundamental human rights, at least in theory. For ages women have been fighting for reproductive rights. There has been a massive stride towards inclusive and accommodative policies but they are no where near where it needs to be today. In many developing and underdeveloped countries, women do not have the economic, social, and political autonomy that will ensure them their reproductive rights. In 2021, the Maternal Mortality ratio was 158.8 deaths per 100,000 birth and according to the SDG target this should become 70 by 2030.[1]

With the recent reversal of the Roe vs Wade case in the USA gave right to abortion), cry for reproductive rights has again engulfed the media. There is a need to understand the current state of reproductive rights worldwide in order to understand where it stands today.

Historical analysis:

Reproduction has been a controversial issue because it is intertwined with religion and politics. It was often only associated with abortion. In western political thought reproduction is considered to be a negative right, which refers to rights which grant us freedom and liberty. Throughout history, women had no choice but to give birth, their choice was never the point for consideration. However, with the coming of women's rights movement in the realm of civil and political rights and the invention of various birth control options there was a significant outcry in the West. This debate over abortion is split between pro-choice and pro-life advocates.

In the developing countries, who were facing the bad brunt of growing population, birth control was forced on the people largely by Western forces. The very important aspect of choice was lost. The concomitant notion of associating the male child with economic prosperity added soil to the fire.

Where does it stand today?

Over the last 30 years 60 countries have liberalized their abortion laws and four countries including some states in US have reverted their liberalized stance. 40% of the people of reproductive age live where abortion is illegal.[2] To think that such a large population of people with reproducing ability have to forcefully give birth, this becomes even more cruel when we think about victims of sexual exploitation. There are vicissitudes of consequences of giving birth. It is a crime to the person giving birth and to the child to be denied this basic right and adds to the heinous history of marginalization.

In India, laws have failed to take on a human-rights approach. The major focus has been on reducing the population which has again put human rights in danger. Despite there being many policies for maternal healthcare and marriage laws, in praxis nothing plays into ameliorating human rights. India contributes to 20% of the maternal deaths globally. [3]

Reproductive rights can only be ensured when there is gender equality in true sense. There is also a need for inclusivity in any laws that seek to change the ground reality. Reproductive rights shouldn't be restricted to Abortion rights but should reckon rights to maternal healthcare, sex education and general healthcare.