|
Through advocacy, information dissemination,
networking, capacity building and technical assistance,
the
IAPG works with legislators and other elected
officials and decision makers to raise awareness
in areas related to population and development,
with a rights-based approach. Our current areas
of work are:
Reproductive Health and Rights
The Programme of Action (PoA) adopted at the 1994
International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD) defines reproductive health as “… a
state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,
in all matters relating to the reproductive system
and to its functions and processes. Reproductive
health therefore implies that people are able to
have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they
have the capability to reproduce and the freedom
to decide if, when and how often to do so.” (Para.
7.2)
Under International Human Rights law, reproductive
rights encompass a set of basic rights that
are included in the different international
human
rights instruments adopted by governments. Some
of these
rights include the right to health; to family
planning; to privacy; to life, liberty and security;
to be
free from discrimination and violence. The PoA
also states that “These rights rest on the recognition
of the basic right of all couples and individuals
to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing
and timing of their children and to have the information
and means to do so, and the right to attain the
highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.
It also includes their right to make decisions concerning
reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and
violence, as expressed in human rights documents.” (Para
7.3)
Most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean
continue to have legislative gaps and lack
effective mechanisms necessary to monitor and
safeguard
sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Gender-based violence
The international community has recognized
the importance of implementing policies
and laws
to prevent and
eliminate gender-based violence. The Declaration
against Violence against Women (UN General
Assembly, 1993), and the Platform for Action
(Fourth World
Conference on Women, 1995) define gender-based
violence as a form of discrimination that
prevents women
from participating fully in society and
fulfilling their potential as human beings.
Violence against women, and especially sexual
violence, violates a woman’s right to have control over
her sexuality and her reproduction. It also deprives
victims of the right to enjoy a healthy and satisfactory
sexual life, which is an integral part of personal
development and of healthy relationships. Although
there are many laws in the region that specifically
address violence, there is still much to be done
regarding the implementation and prevention of gender-based
violence.
HIV/AIDS
According to UNAIDS, the Latin America
and Caribbean Region has 1.9 million adults
and children living
with HIV. The Caribbean sub-region has
been
seriously affected by the pandemic, following
Sub-Saharan
Africa with the second highest rate of
HIV infection.
Stigma and discrimination attached to
the disease and the marginalization of
people
living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) has resulted in the
frequent violation
of their human rights. It is important
to increase support to HIV/AIDS prevention
programs and
policies, especially for adolescents,
to
effectively combat
the epidemic in the region. In addition,
there is a need to pass legislation and
regulations
that
will promote public education, and to
advance prevention and treatment efforts
to safeguard
the rights of
those affected.
Adolescents
In Latin America and the Caribbean, almost
half the population is below the age of
20 and a
third of girls below 20 years of age have
already given
birth. Legislation and regulations specific
to adolescent sexual and reproductive
health from
a post-Cairo
and post-Beijing perspective are still
relatively incipient in the region. Most
existing laws
refer to sexual education and pregnant
adolescents. The sexual and reproductive
rights of adolescents
need
to be recognized, and the concept more
widely disseminated, in order to empower
young
people –and especially
young women– to make informed choices.
Back To Top
|
