What are Reproductive Rights?
Reproductive Rights are defined as embracing certain human rights recognized in National and International legal and human rights documents including:
• Recognition of basic rights of couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly, the number, spacing and timing of their children.
• Rights to have education, information and means to do so.
• Right to make decisions concerning reproduction.
• Right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health.
• Right to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence as expressed in human rights documents.

Major concerns for Reproductive Rights?
• Ability to have a safe and satisfying sex life.
• Capacity to reproduce.
• Freedom of choice to decide to reproduce.
• Freedom to choose the timing and frequency of reproduction.
• Providing comprehensive sexual health that are affordable, safe and have good quality.

Why is it necessary to focus on Women's Reproductive Rights?
• Lack of information/awareness about reproductive rights is a barrier to the application of the rights.
• Persistence of cultural barriers (e.g.) Harmful Traditional Practices such as Female Genital Cutting (female circumcision).
• Practice of encouraging unmarried girls to bear children for natal family are forms of coercion that negate women’s reproductive rights.
• Lack of access to health care services. A good number of women in their reproductive age do not have access to family planning services due to poverty, ignorance and lack of control over their bodies.
• Inequality in gender relations makes it difficult for women to discuss about fertility and contraceptive use.