Sexual and reproductive health and rights are critical to achieving gender equality.

Why? Because when women are able to maintain good health their well-being is directly affected. There are fewer maternal deaths and less illness. Women are able to participate in education, and in all facets of life, free from violence. When women and girls can realize their sexual and reproductive health and rights they are more free to participate in social, economic and political life.

It is estimated that women account for two-thirds of the 1.4 billion people currently living in extreme poverty and make up 60% of the 572 million working poor in the world.

The world is changing rapidly and this change has opened doors for women to fully participate in social, economic and political life. Despite this optimism, gender norms still hold women and girls back.

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The face of poverty is female

Overview > The face of poverty is female

Sexual and reproductive health and rights: the key to gender equality

Sexual and reproductive health and rights are fundamental human rights. Having access to those rights will bring about huge changes to the lives of women and girls around the world. Only when women and girls have those rights will we have gender equality and only then will we be able to tackle some of the world’s most pressing problems.

In this animation we have used the stories of two girls to illustrate what happens when you give women and girls the power to decide for themselves and the ability to be in control of their own bodies.

It can make all the difference to individual lives as well as to the lives of families and the communities they live in.

Menu:
Overview
    The face of poverty is female

    What is SRHR?
    Equal opportunities for all
Gender inequality around the world 
Social
    1. Health
    HIV
    Maternal health
    2. Education
    Early and forced marriage
    Discrimination against girls
    Comprehensive sexuality education
    3. Sexual and Gender Based Violence
Economic
    1. Unpaid care burdens
    2. Formal and informal markets
    3. Empowerment
Political
    1. Discrimination
    2. Changing social norms
    3. Peace building
IPPF’s recommendations: 6 steps for moving towards equality and sustainable development
    1. Laws that support sexual and reproductive health and rights
    2. Funding for sexual and reproductive health and rights
    3. Measure the outcomes that really matter
    4. Engage men and boys as partners in gender transformative change
    5. Laws to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence
    6. Strengthening political capacity of women at the grassroots level
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