1. Lesson 5: Women’s Rights and Health
Image Credit
Dessie Referral Hospital in Afar region, Ethiopia, June 2012.  July 2014). Copyright: Michael Tsegaye/Save the Children. © Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (  
Lecture 5-2: Women’s Rights and Health—Access to Health, Reproductive Rights, Maternal Mortality, FGC

2. I. Reproductive Rights and Criminal Law
Criminalization as a Contentious Political Issue
Political conflict between right to life and women’s right to choice, freedom, autonomy
Problematic for Public Health
Demand for criminalized practice leads to unsafe abortions
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3. I. Reproductive Rights and Criminal Law , cont.
C. Forced pregnancy as a human rights violation
Rape exception: pregnancies resulting from rape are often an exception in criminal law, but are not always enforced or available.
Rwanda genocide: led to many unwanted pregnancies in a country with restrictive access to reproductive choices.
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4. II. Reproductive Rights and Health Framework
Cairo Consensus (1994)
International Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo, Egypt 1994.
Created an innovative program for development
It recognized and connected reproductive health to rights along with women’s empowerment and gender equality as critical to development programs.
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A mother and child at a maternal health center in South Somalia, 2013.

5. II. Reproductive Rights and Health Framework, cont.
B. Problems with Development Health Funding
Mexico City Policy
Announced in 1984 by US President Ronald Reagan at the UN International Conference on Population in Mexico City.
US funds prohibited from going to health and development NGOs if any portion of their services include performing or promoting abortion services.
Since 1984, Republican Presidents support the policy, Democratic Presidents rescind it.
President Trump rescinded it in January 2017
Watch & Explore:
To find out more about negative consequences of the Global Gag Rule here is a short 6 minute video from Population Action International (PAI). This non-governmental organization advocates for women and families to have access to contraception in order to improve their health, reduce poverty and protect their environment.

6. III. Reproductive Rights and Human Rights Approach
Human Rights Framework and Reproductive Rights
Applying right to life, liberty and dignity to reproductive health and protection for women
Rights in Conflict
Legal conflicts in many countries between the rights of the woman and the interests of the state to protect the unborn
Non-discrimination
Human rights protect against discrimination and can be applied to reproductive rights
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7. IV. Maternal Mortality Key Facts B. Why?
Everyday approximately 800 women around the world die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth
99% of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries
B. Why?
Poverty, distance from health services, lack of information, inadequate services, cultural practices
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“Britain is working with the Government of Odisha (Orissa), one of India's poorest states, and UNICEF to save the lives of thousands of mums and babies. The scheme has been so successful, 8 out of 10 mums now get vital ante and post natal care in Odisha. Swarna is one of them. She and her baby boy Satyasworup are back home from the neo-natal survival unit safe and well. ” -UK DFID

8. I. Maternal Mortality, cont.
C. US Maternal Mortality Rates on the Rise
US sees biggest rate increase amongst developed countries
Stark contrast as there is a sharp decline in maternal mortality rates around the globe (declining 2.7%/year: CEE likely to achieve 75% reduction in 1990 rate by 2015; East Asian countries have 9%/ year reduction since 1990)
12.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990, up to 18.5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013 and 21 in 2014.
Why? Hypothesized reasons include: lack of access to healthcare (1 in 5 women of reproductive age have no health insurance), rise in poor health (diabetes, cardiovascular problems, obesity), high C-section rate (US is 32%, recommendation is 10). Comparisons.

9. V. Female Genital Cutting: Health Issue, HR Issue or Both?
Key Facts
More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and Middle East where FGC is concentrated.
FGC is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15.
B. Why does it remain pervasive despite negative health effects?
Social, cultural and religious norms perpetuating the practice
Organizations for Change

10. II. Female Genital Cutting: A Health Issue, cont.
C. Community based mobilization for change
Tostan: an international non-governmental organization which has successfully brought significant change in the practice
Community Empowerment Approach: Tostan trains and educates community members on basic human rights and responsibilities of health and well being for all.
Community members then bring about the change from within on their own terms.
Educating local leaders on the health effects of FGC
This approach led to over 9,000 or more communities in 8 countries in Africa to give up the practice.

11. VI. Women’s Health and Human Rights: The Future
Clinical and Health System Improvements
Access to reliable health care is mandatory for the protection of basic human rights
Social, Economic, Political and Legal Conditions Create Barriers
Remove the barriers to improving women’s health
Decriminalization issues, change in cultural practice issues
Increase opportunities: Lack of literacy, educational and employment opportunities may increase perpetuation of harmful practices, and lack of access and knowledge of reproductive health and rights
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12. Videos and Discussion
We watched the film The Doctor’s Story in class (on DVD at UW libraries) Optional other video: Melinda Gates TedTalk: Let's Put Birth Control Back on the Agenda Melinda Gates TedTalk