COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS DISCUSSES REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH ISSUES WITH UN AGENCIES

CESCR
27th session
20 November 2001
Afternoon




The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was briefed this afternoon about reproductive and sexual health by representatives of United Nations agencies.

Following the briefing, a discussion was held focusing on the global trends and indictors of reproductive and sexual health relating to maternal mortality and morbidity; high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; unsafe abortion; violence against women, such as female genital mutilation; and adolescents' lack of access to sexual and reproductive health.

Representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the World Health Organization (WHO) presented to the Committee models of questions to be raised during its dialogue with States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The questions focused mainly on article 12 of the Covenant pertaining to "the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health", particularly reproductive and sexual health. It was suggested by Committee members that with the time and institutional constraints, not all questions could be raised when reports were considered.

When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 21 November, it will consider the second periodic report of Jamaica without the presence of a Government delegation from the State party. At the beginning of the session, Jamaica had requested that the consideration of the report be postponed to a future session; however, the Committee decided to go ahead with its review as scheduled in the absence of a Jamaican delegation.


Statements

ANA ANGARITA, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)/Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), recalled that an improved understanding of reproductive health in the international community had developed in the past few years. In 1996, in Glen Cove, New York, UNFPA, in conjunction with OHCHR and the Division for the Advancement of Women had organized a meeting on "human rights approaches to women's health, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights". The purpose was to contribute to the work of treaty bodies in interpreting and applying human rights standards to issues relating to women's health. It was also to encourage collaboration in the development of methodologies and indicators for use by both treaty bodies and the UN agencies to promote, implement and monitor women's right to health, in particular reproductive and sexual health.

Ms. Angarita said that in June 2001, a follow-up meeting had been organized in Geneva by UNFPA and OHCHR to assess progress, obstacles and opportunities in integrating health and reproductive rights into the work of the treaty bodies. It was also aimed at defining actions and recommendations to ensure better implementation of treaty obligations at the domestic level so as to promote and ensure enjoyment by women and men of reproductive and sexual health.

ALPHONSE MACDONALD, Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Geneva Office, said that the universality and indivisibility of human rights had been affirmed in the activities of UNFPA. It was also emphasized that priority should be given to the most disadvantaged persons, particularly in the rural areas which were less accessible. It was now 30 years since efforts had been started to put emphasis on the integration of sexual and reproductive health aspects in the national health services provided to populations.

Mr. MacDonald said that refugees were excluded from the provisions of basic health services, including sexual and reproductive health. However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNFPA had been endeavouring to provide such services. Also, internally displaced persons were excluded from basic health services because of their precarious living conditions. In general, the struggle against exclusion and marginalization should continue in concert with all agencies working in health services. The issue of information and dialogue should be emphasised to approach the beneficiaries. Further, a dialogue should be established with governments and civil society.

Mr. MacDonald said that since the Cairo World Population Conference, UNFPA had focused on the promotion of reproductive rights and sexual health within the context of national and cultural settings; on linking all other developments complementary to reproductive and sexual health; and on advocacy for the subscription of the international community to the issue.

Mr. MacDonald emphasized that domestic violence that victimized the female population had to be dealt with through the proper training of law enforcement agents to better implement existing legal provisions. The campaign against violence had to be increased and the society's awareness of the issue had to be raised.

VIRGINIA BONOAN-DANDAN, Committee Chairperson, said that when the issue of equality between women and men was raised, one observed that women were always less equal than men. There were a number of studies on the causes of violence against women but the simple question on "why men beat women" had not been thoroughly discussed. The cultural aspect that women accepted beatings from their husbands or brothers should be focused upon.

JANE COTTINGHAM, World Health Organization (WHO), highlighted the reproductive health indictors for global monitoring by WHO, among which was maternal mortality and morbidity. In many countries maternal death had been high although official registration did not normally reflect the reality. The estimated maternal mortality ratio in 1995 registered in Africa was much higher than the world average. The relationship between the presence of skilled attendants at delivery and maternal mortality in developing countries was evident.

Ms. Cottingham said that mortality and morbidity related to abortion was difficult to measure; and unsafe abortions and miscarriages were among the causes leading to death. The fact that abortion was legal in a country did not mean it was safe and or that there less unfortunate incidents. Most countries justified their liberalization of abortion by stating that it was to save the lives of the women.


Discussion

In a discussion that followed the briefings, Committee Experts stressed that reproductive health issues should not solely focus on women; they should include the right of men to reproductive health as well.

The representatives of UNFPA and WHO presented to the Committee models of questions to be raised during its dialogue with States parties to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights whose reports were being examined. The questions focused mainly on article 12 of the Covenant pertaining to "the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health", particularly reproductive and sexual health. It was suggested by Committee members that with the time and institutional constraints, not all questions could be raised when the reports were considered. There was a consensus, however, that the questions presented were relevant and that close cooperation between the Committee and the UN agencies was essential.




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