Sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia and the Pacific: the unfinished agenda.

Abstract

This paper contains a review of the key trends in sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia and the Pacific since the adoption of the Programme of Action by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994. In the paper, key areas of progress, as well as the unfinished agenda and emerging issues in the region are identified and policy recommendations to effectively address them are provided. The paper also contains a discussion on the various barriers to ensuring universal sexual and reproductive health and rights, such as financial, physical and sociocultural barriers, highlighting current deficiencies in health systems across the region. The recommendations to address these challenges focus on reducing disparities in access to a comprehensive and integrated package of sexual and reproductive health services for different population groups, creating an enabling legal and policy framework, measures to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, and mechanisms to improve monitoring and accountability.