Reproductive health and development

19 April 2016: UNFPA works to ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights remain at the very centre of development.  The  International  Conference  on  Population  and  Development draws  a  clear connection  between  reproductive  health,  human  rights  and  sustainable  development.  When sexual and reproductive health needs are not met, individuals are deprived of the right to make crucial choices about their own bodies and futures, with a cascading impact on their families’ welfare  and  future  generations.

  And  because  women  bear  children,  and  also  often  bear  the responsibility  for  nurturing  them,  sexual  and reproductive  health  and rights  issues  cannot  be separated  from  gender  equality.  Cumulatively,  the  denial  of  these rights exacerbates  poverty and gender inequality.