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CONCLUSIONS
During three days of intense work, individuals and representatives from many national, regional and international organizations committed to the dignity, justice and health equity necessary for the protection and exercise of sexual and reproductive rights, debated these topics with the aim of mapping future actions. Approximately 500 participants from 20 countries attended the congress contributing diverse perspectives and generating rich discussions from a range of disciplines: ethical, bioethical, political, academic, medical, and legal.
One of the important outcomes of the meeting was consensus on several issues of critical concern in order to promote dignity, justice and equity in health, as well as broader protections of human rights in the Latin America and the Caribbean
- Sexual and reproductive rights are human rights recognized in various international instruments and conventions, such as the right to life, liberty, security, health, information, equality, education, privacy, as well as the right to live a life free of violence, and to enjoy scientific progress, among others. We call upon all governments in this region to reaffirm their commitment to uphold their obligations to promote and protect sexual and reproductive rights.
- Latin America is a region with some of the greatest social and health inequities in the world. Therefore, governments in the region must reaffirm their commitments and obligations to respect, guarantee and protect sexual and reproductive rights for all individuals without discrimination on the basis of economic status, sex, gender, age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, among others, in order to eliminate such inequalities.
- There is an urgent need for States to eliminate all barriers that threaten the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights, by promoting changes made explicit in legal and institutional frameworks. These include the adoption of public policies that guarantee access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including legal and safe abortion services, adequate budgetary allocations, and the development and application of approprate measures designed to eliminate prejudice and discriminatory stereotypes.
- Given the growing political influence by ultra-conservatives and fundamentalist groups opposed to the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights, it is essential to ensure the separation of Church and State, establish clear boundaries between religion and politics, and between religion and science. We call for the respect and support for a secular State and to ensure freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, and the freedom of belief and worship. These freedoms provide the foundation for freedom of choice on all matters concerning our bodies and right to privacy; these principles cannot be exercised fully without state recognition of citizenship and democracy.
- We urge States to adopt mechanisms for greater accountability and transparency, which include the active participation of civil society to strengthen the conditions necessary for the full implementation of sexual and reproductive rights, which in turn will contribute to strengthening democracy.
- In addition to State efforts, numerous non-State actors should redouble their efforts to contribute to the changes needed to promote and respect sexual and reproductive rights. The news media plays a major role in shaping the consciousness of individuals, transforming collective imaginary and exercising an influence in promoting the common goal of fostering harmonious and equitable relationships between women and men. Similarly, the contributions from civil society organizations dedicated to defending human rights are vitally important to promoting public awareness about rights, empowering women especially, but also men, and positioning sexual and reproductive rights more proximately in the political agendas of Latin American countries.
- Young women and men in particular face disproportionate challenges to their personal and psychosocial development, specifically regarding their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Adolescents and youth are the age group with the highest risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and Aids, and experiencing early and unwanted pregnancy, discrimination, and physical and/or sexual violence. Therefore, we urge States and civil society to take concrete steps to guarantee and protect the rights of youth, promote conditions that facilitate those rights, and guarantee active participation of youth in the design of public policies to protect and promote their sexual and reproductive rights.
- In many countries, the rule of law is at risk. Currently, even in locations where abortion is legal, women and service providers are being persecuted and imprisoned for exercising those legal rights. It is critical that States take the necessary measures to guarantee the rule of law as the basis for all people to exercise their human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights.
- We recognize the need to foster multidisciplinary approaches to identifying needs, priorities and appropriate strategies to promote the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights, as well as the importance and urgency of incorporating multicultural and gender approaches into these actions. We urge States to include this perspective in their legal mechanisms in order to ensure comprehensive and universal rights for all people.
- There are numerous examples in many Latin American countries that highlight how ethics and human rights can be jeopardized in the health care setting, which prevents women from being able to access quality and comprehensive health services; and, in doing so, undermines the State’s obligation to ensure health and wellbeing of all people, including respecting sexual and reproductive rights. States should ensure the conditions necessary to promote high ethical standards in the health care setting and resolve immediately any cases of rights violations
It is imperative that States and other key actors redouble their efforts to uphold their obligations to respect and ensure sexual and reproductive rights through building intersectoral partnerships that engage civil society organizations and forge collective strategies.
Sexual and reproductive rights, especially those of women, are in no way subject to negotiation. It is inexcusable that women continue to die and suffer negative health consequences for preventable reasons.
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