Empowering Bodies, Empowering Lives: Fight For Sexual And Reproductive Health Rights

Abstract

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) of a woman has been an arena which has been largely ignored, belittled and has not found attention till few decades ago. It is only with the feminist movements that these concerns started being voiced up since early 20^th century. Women being denied the right to have control over her own body is tantamount to denial of fundamental human rights. Since historical times, it is the male dominant patriarchal society which has been deciding the rules of the game with respect to sexuality and women’s reproductive health and women have got used to this socio-cultural framework, hence quietly accepted it as a norm. National and international campaigns demanding women’s right to SRH have brought the agenda to the centerstage. The research highlights the issues involved in the fight for SRH, the initiatives taken as well as the limitations and challenges in achieving these rights.