Setting a new agenda: sexual and reproductive health and rights

This paper addresses the need to transform population policies to address development and human rights concerns and to transform family planning into reproductive and sexual health services that advance health and rights, not simply the achievement of democratic objectives. Section I provides the context and section II describes the importance of creating the social and economic conditions within which people can freely and responsibly choose the number of children they have. Section III notes the deficiencies in service provision to date while section IV describes the objectives and scope of women's reproductive and sexual health services that include but are not limited to birth control. Section V describes policies and programmes to encourage men to take more responsibility for their own fertility and for the health and well-being of their sexual partners and the children they father. Section VI explains why more support must be given to education on sexuality and gender relations, especially for children and young people.