Reproductive Justice: A Pillar for Human Rights

Reproductive justice was created by the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. It is about making sure that everyone, no matter who they are, has the right to make decisions about their bodies, their health and their futures.

Reproductive justice focuses on four main ideas:

1. The human right to own our bodies and control our future. 
2. The right to have children.
3. The right not to have children.
4. The right to parent children in safe and supportive environments. 

Reproductive justice is about fairness and making sure that all people have the resources and support they need to make these important life decisions.

Reproductive justice is connected to human rights, which are basic rights that everyone should have, no matter where they live or who they are. 

Here’s how reproductive justice connects to these rights:

– The right to health: This means everyone should have access to healthcare, including reproductive healthcare in the form of quality family planning. 

Quality family planning is counseling and education on how to be healthy before, during and after pregnancy

– The right to equality: People’s race, income or where they live should not stop them from making decisions about their reproductive health. 

Unfortunately, this makes it harder for people, especially those from marginalized communities, to get the care and support they need.

– The right to autonomy: This means everyone should have the freedom to make choices about their own bodies. 

No one should be forced into having children or prevented from having them.

International agreements like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights say that these rights should be protected for everyone, everywhere.

Reproductive Justice is much bigger than only access to reproductive care and connects to many other important issues such as:

– Racial justice: People of color, especially Black, Brown and Indigenous communities, often face extra barriers to getting the reproductive healthcare they need. 

For example,Black women in the U.S. are more likely to die during childbirth than white women,  and part of that is because of systemic racism in healthcare.

– Economic justice: People in low-income communities don’t always have access to birth control, safe living conditions or even basic healthcare. 

This makes it harder for them to make the decisions they want about their lives and families.

– Environmental justice: Marginalized communities are often the ones most affected by pollution, unsafe living environments and climate change. These environmental issues can impact their overall wellbeing.

While reproductive justice is an important goal, there are still many challenges that people face today. 

Some of these challenges are:

– Restrictive laws: In some states, people do not have access to quality family planning or get the necessary reproductive healthcare. These laws make it harder for people to make choices about their own bodies.

– Lack of access to affordable healthcare: Due to unequal and discriminatory insurance coverage, low-income communities, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ individuals cannot afford basic healthcare, especially reproductive healthcare.

Despite all the challenges, organizations such as SisterSong and Black Mamas Matter Alliance are fighting for reproductive justice. Alongside them are local clinics or community centers that are making a change by providing care, education and support where it’s needed most. 

These efforts show that change is possible. They are standing up for reproductive justice, helping people get the care they need, and fighting for equality and fairness for all.

As we celebrate Human Rights Day, we should remember that reproductive justice is a key part of achieving human rights for all. It’s not just about protecting the right to choose; it’s about making sure that everyone has the support, resources and opportunities to live healthy, safe and dignified lives.

What can you do?

• Learn more about reproductive justice and human rights.
• Support organizations that are working to make a difference.
• Talk about these issues with your friends and family to help spread awareness.