Holistic Framework for Human Rights-Based Family Planning

Applying a human rights-based approach ensures that people are at the centre of development programmes. The explicit goal of a family planning programme is to support individuals to enjoy their right to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children as stated in the 1994 Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development.

This framework depicts a vision for an ideal human rights-based family planning programme. It defines the essential elements that should ideally be in place at the various levels in the health-care system for a comprehensive family planning programme based in human rights. It lists key programmatic conditions and actions necessary to fulfil human rights as enshrined in international human rights law. This comprehensive framework addresses both the supply side and demand side of programmes, and covers both the responsibilities of duty-bearers and the entitlements and protections of rightsholders. These levels do not operate in isolation but reinforce and contribute to each other.

The framework can be introduced through a stakeholder workshop, and a detailed resource package for designing and conducting such a workshop is included in the Human Rights-based Approach to Family Planning: Support Tool.