What is this toolkit?
This toolkit provides practical guidance for those seeking to incorporate a human rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health in the context of universal health coverage (UHC).
Through seven thematic modules—(1) maternal health, (2) contraceptive information and services, (3) sexuality education, (4) abortion care, (5) HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, (6) gender-based violence, and (7) harmful practices—the toolkit outlines key questions that users can ask themselves as they analyze the human rights compliance of their countries’ health systems. It provides relevant resources, case studies, and practical examples of what “good” implementation of a rights-based approach to universal health care (UHC) looks like. By translating international human rights standards on sexual and reproductive health and rights into an operational format, the toolkit provides a practical framework for people wishing to assess and improve their health system’s compliance with international human rights obligations.
Who can use it?
Government officials, health professionals, civil society, human rights advocates, United Nations staff, and anyone else committed to ensuring a rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in UHC.
How can it be used?
This toolkit is meant to guide efforts to shape, inform and review the extent to which international human rights obligations to SRHR have been supported and implemented as part of UHC policies and programs. Among other things, the toolkit can be used to:
• monitor health facilities’ compliance with human rights
• identify gaps in the implementation of sexual and reproductive health and rights
• guide discussions on practices and policies to ensure rights-based outcomes
• encourage data collection and research at the national and local level
• provide a practical framework for supporting human rights-based accountability
• spot issues that merit further attention
• provide an entry point for health teams to discuss human rights obligations
• facilitate discussions on sexual and reproductive health and rights obligations with national partners, including governments and civil society.
