Reproductive Justice & Women’s Human Rights

This paper argues that women must have as much sovereignty over their own bodies, and decisions effecting their health and well-being as men have over theirs. Conditions for reproductive justice are foundational for women’s human rights. Reproductive justice includes access to abortion, and to pre- and post-natal care, decisions regarding the spacing of pregnancies and whether or not to have children, reductions in infant and maternal mortality, and appropriate conditions for the successful and healthful care and raising of children. From this point of view reproductive justice and women’s human rights are intertwined with the abolition of colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, poverty, and war, and a recognition of women’s full humanity.