Angela Heimburger

Americas Researcher, Women’s Rights Division

Women Deliver Conference, London, October 19, 2007

EC Access Under Threat

An option, a necessity, a right*

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Alternative titles

•The little pills that pose a big threat

•The little pills that could: Sí se puede

•Pills, politics and the Pope•Gag me with a pill•Get the US out of my uterus

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Scenario in Latin America

• Public health policies broadened to include rights perspective as result of EC debates

• Widespread availability, but not access in the public sector

• Rape victims least controversial, adolescents most

• Confusion with abortion pill• Uncertainty about legal status• Global gag rule spillover

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Opponents

•Catholic church hierarchy•Conservative groups•Politicians tied to previous•USAID•Some public servants (i.e. MOH)• Individual doctors and

pharmacists

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Proponents

• Women and girls• Women´s rights groups• Professional societies (OB/GYNs)• Service providers (health and social)• Youth groups and networks• Health advocates• Pharmaceutical companies &

distributors• Press (unwittingly)

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Right to life with dignity

•Right to physical health•Right to mental health•Right to be free from disease•Right to well-being•Right to access free or low cost

health services, especially for poor

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Right to information

•Right to know, not depend on luck

•Right to evidence-based and timely information, regardless of age

•Right to benefits of scientific progress

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Right to equality

•Right to be free from discrimination, whether gender, economic, racial, etc.

•Right to be free from coercion, violence, torture and inhumane treatment

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Right to autonomy

• Right to bodily integrity

• Right to privacy and confidentiality

• Right to decide if and when to have children and space pregnancies

• Right to refuse treatment

• Right to liberty of conscience

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Long-term Obligations of the State

• Approve necessary laws (via reforms or proposals) in health and justice systems

• Review criminal code; impose sanctions for non-compliance

• Evaluate fulfillment of laws through data collection and analysis

• Establish referral system for complaint monitoring

• Redress grievances• Ensure that rights violations are not repeated• Reduce maternal morbidity and mortality

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Immediate Obligations of the State

• Inform the general public and correct misinformation• Disseminate evidence-based information• Offer free or low cost services in the public sector• Support public sector providers in service delivery• Ensure that rape victims have priority access to EC as part of

package• Respect adolescents’ rights to decision making while protecting

their interests• Disallow funding conditionalities that restrict legal service

delivery and violate rights• Teach comprehensive sexuality education in schools• Distribute wide range of contraceptive supplies and info• Provide access to safe abortion services, within law

Human Rights WatchOctober 2007

Gracias

Contact informationwww.hrw.org/womenheimbua@hrw.org

Faundes A, Tavara L, Brache V and Alvarez F. May 2007. Emergency Contraception under Attack in Latin America: Response of the Medical Establishment and Civil Society. Reproductive Health Matters (15) 29: 130-8.

PROMSEX. 2007. Free Choice Restricted. USAID’s Reactionary Policies and the case of Emergency Contraception in Peru. www.promsex.org