Human rights are violated every time a girl is married off under age 18, every time a woman is denied access to quality maternal care and every time a person is subjected to abuse. Human rights also include sexual and reproductive rights – yet many people cannot freely decide the number, spacing or timing of their children. Some lack the information or means to make these choices, while others face coercion, discrimination or violence when they exercise these rights. Protecting the rights – including sexual and reproductive health and rights – of all people is a precondition for individual well-being and sustainable development. UNFPA works to empower individuals and communities to claim their rights through various strategies, including awareness-raising, trainings, life-skills projects and working with national human rights institutions. UNFPA also works with governments to help them fulfil their human rights obligations under regional and international agreements. Read more
