Family Planning is Human Right - Family Health Bureau
Planning their family and receiving family planning services is a right of women and couples, irrespective of any social barriers. Erosion of this right would lead to detrimental health and socio-economic outcomes, a seminar was told.
Dr. Nethanjali Mapitigama, Director, Family Health Bureau (FHB) said a good example was illegal abortions which are widespread in Sri Lanka.
“Since a safe abortion is not a legally or culturally acceptable option in the country, it could be prevented only through using effective family planning methods to avoid unwanted pregnancies. People should have access to safe family planning methods, as well as receive accurate, unbiased and scientific information,” Dr. Mapitigama stressed.
Addressing a seminar held at the Health Education Bureau for media personal to mark the ‘World Population Day’ on the theme ‘Family Planning is a Human Right” Dr. Mapitigama went onto say that
Since a safe abortion is not a legally or culturally acceptable option in the country, it could be prevented only through using effective family planning methods to avoid unwanted pregnancies
every woman and couple have the right to freely and responsibly decide the number, timing and spacing of children they wish to have.
However, they need accurate, unbiased and scientific information and counselling services to fulfill this right. Lack of access to scientific information, or even worse receiving incorrect, biased information would lead to harmful decisions related to number, timing and spacing of children, which amounts to a violation of human rights,” she added.
The Governing Council of the UNDP recommended celebrating the World Population Day in 1989. “Family Planning is a Human Right”, is the focus of the 2018 celebration. This marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations International Conference on Human Rights in Tehran, on May 13, 1968, which for the first time declared that “parents have a basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and the spacing the birth of their children”, she noted.
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Sanath Lanerolle said proper family planning will facilitate women and couples to achieve their life goals.
“Family planning is not only a matter of human rights, it is also central to women’s empowerment and also to reducing poverty. Very recently it was revealed that female labour force participation in Sri Lanka has been low. Family planning empowers females by helping them to achieve work-life balance. Due to this factor, when the oral pill was introduced during last century, it was nicknamed ‘the liberator”, Dr. Lanerolle emphasized.