WUNRN
State
of
By Choice, Not By Chance:
Family Planning, Human Rights and Development
Executive Summary Link:
Direct Link to Full 140-Page Report:
Additional Translations: http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/sitemap/swp2012
All human beings—regardless of age,
sex, race or income—are equal in dignity and rights. Yet 222 million women in
developing countries are unable to exercise the human right to voluntary family
planning.
This flagship report analyzes data
and trends to understand who is denied access and why. It examines challenges
in expanding access to family planning. And it considers the social and
economic impact of family planning as well as the costs and savings of making
it available to everyone who needs it.
The report asserts that governments,
civil society, health providers and communities have the responsibility to
protect the right to family planning for women across the spectrum, including
those who are young or unmarried.
Nevertheless, the report finds that
financial resources for family planning have declined and contraceptive use has
remained mostly steady. In 2010, donor countries fell $500 million short of
their expected contribution to sexual and reproductive health services in
developing countries. Contraceptive prevalence has increased globally by just
0.1 per cent per year over the last few years.