Sexual and reproductive health and rights – Having agency over your own body and sexuality

Published 8/8/2024

Updated 8/8/2024

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are essential to girls’, women’s, and young people's rights, health and survival. It is also a prerequisite for sustainable development and reduction of extreme poverty. SRHR is under increasing pressure from various sides and is often part of a broader decline in multiple human rights and democracy. Girls and women in countries experiencing war and conflict and countries subjected to climate change are most vulnerable to mortality due to pregnancy or childbirth, domestic violence, child marriage and unplanned pregnancy.

What

SRHR is about the right and opportunity to make decisions about your own body and sexuality, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. These are fundamental rights. It is important to safeguard sexual rights and sexual health for vulnerable groups such as LGBTQ+ individuals, young children down to the age of 10-14, people with disabilities and indigenous peoples.

Access to contraception and safe abortion, safe pregnancies and childbirth, as well as prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are central aspects of SRHR. The same is true when it comes to comprehensive sexuality education for children and young people. It is important to involve boys and men in the efforts to promote SRHR. Strengthening health systems to ensure that the primary health service has a comprehensive approach to SRHR for all is something Norway is working to achieve.

Why

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that over 250 million girls and women who want to avoid pregnancy do not use modern contraception. A lack of access or knowledge of contraception leads to unwanted pregnancy, dangerous abortions and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. In low-income countries, pregnancy-related complications and unsafe abortions are the leading cause of death in girls between 15 and 19 years of age. Adolescent pregnancy is also a common cause of girls dropping out of school and being married off early. Many young people do not have access to comprehensive sexuality education. Despite progress, there is still a long way to go before SRHR is available to all.

The right to autonomy over one's own body and sexuality lacks international consensus, making sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) a frequent target for anti-democratic forces. Sexuality education sparks intense debates, and in many nations, abortion and same-sex relationships remain criminalised.

Persons with disabilities, indigenous groups and queer people may face even more significant challenges.

How

SRHR is one of Norway’s political priorities and the government has committed, politically and economically, to contributing NOK 9.6 billion to strengthening SRHR efforts during the 2020-2025 period. Norwegian SRHR efforts will contribute to achieving SDG 3, which is about ensuring good health for all and SDG 5 on gender equality.

Norway has a clear voice internationally in supporting SRHR and makes great efforts through international forums and negotiations. Norway’s position is rooted in the right to health and we work to ensure that SRHR is prioritised as part of countries’ universal health care. Norway has, for a long time, championed the politically difficult topics of SRHR such as abortion, access to contraception and comprehensive sexuality education in and outside of school. This is a central element of the action plan A just world is an equal world in Norwegian foreign and development policy and in the Norwegian SRHR guidance for the foreign service (links to the action plan and SRHR guidance can be added here). Norad has established an SRHR portfolio encompassing several strategic organisations working on rights and knowledge in various countries. Innovation, new technology and a comprehensive approach, including a positive approach to these topics, are all essential in achieving greater results from the work. The portfolio puts the spotlight on safe abortion, contraception, and comprehensive sexuality education. You can read more about this here (a link to the page dedicated to the portfolio can be added here).

Who/Where

Norways’s efforts relating to SRHR support work and programmes worldwide and prioritise countries in sub-Saharan Africa and countries experiencing humanitarian crises. People with disabilities, indigenous groups and queer people may experience even greater challenges than the majority. Norway is working to change this. Supporting national and local organisations that drive change in civil society and that are led by women and young people is a priority. Another priority is to help increase capacity on the part of national authorities. Norway’s SRHR partners include The UNFPA, the Global Financing Facility (GFF), the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) and the Human Reproduction Program (HRP), a multilateral research programme into SRHR. Norwegian and international civil society organisations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), MSI for Reproductive Choice, Ipas, Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF), Amplify Change and Sonke Gender Justice. Sex og politikk, FOKUS, Norwegian Church Aid, Save the Children, CARE and others are also important partners.

Contact

For further information, please contact the Section for Gender Equality