SETTING A NEW AGENDA - SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

This paper addresses the need to transform population policies to addr ess development and human rights concerns and to transform family plan ning into reproductive and sexual health services that advance health and rights, not simply the achievement of democratic objectives. Secti on I provides the context and section II describes the importance of c reating the social and economic conditions within which people can fre ely and responsibly choose the number of children they have. Section I II notes the deficiencies in service provision to date while section I V describes the objectives and scope of women's reproductive and sexua l health services that include but are not limited to birth control. S ection V describes policies and programmes to encourage men to take mo re responsibility for their own fertility and for the health and well- being of their sexual partners and the children they father. Section V I explains why more support must be given to education on sexuality an d gender relations, especially for children and young people.