Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

• The topics to be covered are international documents on reproductive and sexual health rights, the International Federation of Family Planning's Declaration, and legal regulations on reproductive and sexual health.

Reproductive Health

• Reproductive health constitutes a complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.
• It assumes that individuals can experience a satisfying and safe sex life, possess the ability to reproduce, and have the freedom to make decisions about their reproductive capabilities without violence or discrimination.

Reproductive Rights

• The purpose of reproductive health services extends beyond providing care and counseling for reproductive and sexually transmitted diseases.
• Reproductive rights are meant to enrich life and personal relationships.

Sexual and Reproductive Rights Definition

• Individuals and couples retain the right to determine the number and spacing of their children freely.
• Individuals and couples should possess the necessary information to make the correct and informed decisions.
• They should not be subjected to pressure, violence, or discrimination when accessing reproductive health services.
• The history of reproductive rights is intertwined with human rights and women's rights.

Important International Documents

• A set of international documents related to reproductive and sexual health rights start with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
• Other documents include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1979, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
• Declaration of the 4th World Conference on Human Rights (1993) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Final Declaration (Cairo 1994) are also important.
• The 4th World Conference on Women (Beijing +5) in 1995, Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) in 2011, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015 complete the set.

Declaration of Human Rights (April 6, 1949)

• Every man and woman of marriageable age is entitled to marry and start a family without restrictions based on race, citizenship, or religion.
• A marriage contract can only be enacted with the free and full consent of both spouses.
• The family is depicted as the foundational element of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
• This is the first document for all human rights.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

• "Discrimination against women" denotes any distinction, exclusion, or restriction based on sex that impairs or nullifies the recognition, enjoyment, or exercise by women, regardless of their marital status, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any field.
• Women and men should be equal.
• Women are entitled to the same right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and timing of their children, with the required information, education, and means to exercise these rights.
• States Parties must prohibit all forms of sale of women and exploitation of women in prostitution.
• Individuals have the right to benefit from appropriate health services, encompassing information, counseling, and services in family planning.

Child Rights Convention (1989)

• States Parties acknowledge juveniles' right to the highest attainable standard of health and access to medical care.
• States Parties will seek full implementation of this right, particularly to reduce infant mortality rates, and combat disease and malnutrition.
• Assistance and care will be given to all children, emphasizing primary health care, prenatal and postnatal care for mothers.
• Access to basic information on child health and nutrition is pivotal, including the benefits of breastfeeding and public health awareness.
• Governments should ensure preventive healthcare, parent guidance, and family planning education and services and will adopt measures for preventing exploitation in prostitution or other illegal activities that could be harmful.

Declaration of the World Conference on Human Rights (1993)

• There are several social and cultural rights guaranteed by the Convention:
  • Right to work;
  • Right to fair working conditions;
  • Right to join and establish a union;
  • The right to social security and insurance.
  • Protection of and assistance to the family as well as adequate standards of living.
  • The right to physical and mental health and to education and benefit from cultural and scientific developments.

United Nations International Conference on Population and Development

• Recognizes women's right to control all aspects of their health, as fundamental to their empowerment.

4th World Women's Conference (Beijing) (1995)

• Necessary measures should be adopted to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls. Eliminating gender inequality obstacles are crucial for women's continued advancement.

Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence

• This document focuses on article 38, mainly on female circumcision.
• States parties will take measures to ensure that intentional acts of mutilation or disabling of all or part of a woman's labia majora, labia minora or clitoris are punished.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (2015)

• Stopping trafficking and sexual exploitation of all women and girls falls under valid needs for improvement in Turkey and in the world.

International Planned Parenthood Federation - Declaration on Reproductive and Sexual Rights: Right to Life

• Every human being has the right to life and no one’s life should be endangered due to pregnancy, childbirth, or gender.
• "Safe Motherhood" practices should be spread, and policies to reduce mortality should be established.
• Women's health and family planning information and services should be free.

The Right to Freedom in Reproduction and Sexual Life

• This includes the people's right to control one's reproductive and sexual life.
• Framework includes the protection of all children, women, and men from sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Individuals have the right to refuse medical intervention regarding their reproductive and sexual health sans their full, free, and informed consent.

Situations That Violate Reproductive Rights

• Sexual abuse.
• Virginity control.
• Forced pregnancy or continuation of it, and forced sterilization.
• Additionally, it covers forced abortion, imposing prison sentences on women for terminating their pregnancies, and female genital mutilation.
• Other violations include practices that require consent for family planning.

The Right to Equality in Reproductive and Sexual Life

• All human beings are born free and equal.
• Discrimination should be prohibited on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, poverty, sex or sexual orientation, and other characteristics.
• Laws prohibiting discrimination against any minority group and protection from inhumane practices are important.
• Gender-sensitive human rights ought to be adhered to.

The Right to Privacy in Reproduction and Sexual Life

• Respecting the ability to autonomously make reproductive and sexual life decisions while respecting ones privacy are important.
• Personal medical information should remain confidential.
• Women have a right to choose reproduction and sexuality autonomously, including safely electing voluntary abortions.
• Young people’s privacy rights must also be respected concerning sexual health.

Right to Freedom of Thought in Reproductive and Sexual Life

• Individuals have the right to reproductive and sexual health and to receive and disseminate information.
• It covers interpretation of religious viewpoints.
• Medical workers retain the right to object to family planning, but a transfer has to be guaranteed.

Right to Information and Education in Reproductive and Sexual Life

• Encompasses unfettered access to this information.
• Framework consists of the right for youths to gain needed information on their sexual health, along with unbiased reproductive programs while making service judgements sans any outside influence.

Right to Freedom of Assembly and Participation in Reproductive and Sexual Life

• The right to establish and participate in NGOs that protect and fight for reproductive freedom is important.
• Active self-defense and NGO advocacy should be sought to guarantee these liberties.

Right to Decide Whether or When to Have Children

• All people have the right to freely and responsibly decide on the number and spacing of their children.
• This includes the right to decide whether or not to have children and the right to access family planning methods.

Right to Decide Whether or When to Have Children Framework

• Reproductive health, safe motherhood, and voluntary abortion services need to be reliable and accessible.
• People need to be given the freedom to choose protection against unplanned pregnancy.

The Right to Receive Health Care and Health Protection in Reproductive and Sexual life:

• Everyone has the right to attain the highest level of mental and physical health.
• Programs that ensure the highest possible quality of healthcare with comprehensive health services are in place.
• Access should be given to family planning, treatment for infertility and sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy counseling.
• Services should provide privacy and be user-friendly.
• Maternal leave and benefits need to be provided.

Concerning Scientific Developments in Reproductive and Sexual Life:

• People have the right to benefit from and enjoy the benefits of science in these practices.
• This means having access to new methods of family planning, and information on harmful effects of reproductive technology.
• Research and medical advances need to be provided to all, sans discrimination.

Concerning Marriage and Family Formation

• All parties can choose whether or not they want to get married and plan a family, and all sexually transmitted infections ought to be eliminated sans any prejudice.

Torture-Free Reproductive and Sexual Healthcare

• Torture and cruel and inhumane metrics should be barred for all people, and all medical assessment has to arise from consensual terms.

Conclusion

• Interdisciplinary communication is key for thwarting against any marriages concerning juveniles.
• Those on the frontlines - like nurses - are important in assisting juveniles and mitigating any risks.

Additional Duties Besides Standard Roles:

• Educators can advocate for women’s rights and enforce balanced standing along with communal positions for all.

Legal Regulations

• Important laws in Turkey that guarantee these rights are CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention.

Turkish Regulations

• Important regulations and commitments, and any reservations have been disavowed. Some of these are The Beijing Action Platform, Turkey, which is committed to pushing female literacy up to 100%.

Key Laws of the Land

• In this sector are: The Constitution of Turkey, the Civil and Family Codes, The Office and Labor Codes, and articles concerning criminal behavior.

Turkish Civil Law

• The country has been following modern adaptations for equal opportunities since 2002.
• Since that period, any prejudice has ended, with added and equivalent value and labor opportunities within various communities.

Current Turkish Civil Code

• The rule on wedlock was adjusted to the age of 18, but, in extraordinary cases, with parental support, a judge can endorse marriage at 17.
• The new civil code has set a new standard, allowing anyone to have a rightful inheritance whether or not they were born into it. Any adoptee has no cap to be bound to a family.

Modernized Turkish Civil Code

• The husband is the father of the child born during the marriage, or within 300 days of the dissolution of the marriage.
• The family is guaranteed if she had conceived during the marriage.

Post Civil Code

• A child born after at least 180 days after the marriage is deemed to have conceived into wedlock.

Article 129

• No family members or any persons linked to the adopter or the descendent is permitted to get lawfully married.

Turkish Criminal Law

• Key changes that have happened to follow the draft codes are that there is no distinction between women and criminal crimes relating to involuntary relationships to a victim.

Turkish Criminal Law

• The act has to be subject to that member of family pressing charges.

Law Context in Harassment and Crime

• It does meet a heavier penalty as it determines some forms of crude workplace conduct.

Laws on Remorse

• If there is an element of remorse felt by someone accused of a crime, this can lead to deleting someone/ something, which has proven divisive.

With the Motive of Honor

• Adding the expression "with the motive of honor" to the article regulating the qualified cases of the crime of intentional murder has now set up more protections and repercussions for the actual act.

The Unfair Provocation

• An individual who has a family member who had forced intercourse cannot say that there was any provocation and every crime has to have the correct legal process.

Turkish Criminal Law concerning Pregnant women

The gestation mark is fixed for any woman who performs an illegal operation. If pregnancy occurs because of a criminal act, then no penalty is imposed.

If someone commits a crime:

There is an aggravated penalty for any person who abuses another. Anyone under duress has the right to take the case all the way. If they die because of their injuries, there is mandatory jail time.

Torture

• All levels of assault are regulated by a judge in chambers.

The State Labor Code

• Harassment at places of work has been covered under the legal code of Turkey. Now, those in charge must now uphold the position of every person.