Amnesty International (AI) recently modified their position and issues to include reproductive rights and justice as part of their human rights platform. AI recognizes the importance for women to “exercise their sexual and reproductive rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence.” AI has identified three areas of concern: opposition to the imprisonment or other criminal penalties (such as fines) against women who obtain abortions; timely and adequate medical attention and treatment for women who suffer complications from unsafe clandestine abortions; and the right for women to seek abortions in cases of rape, incest or to preserve her health or life.
Apart from the above abortion issues, AI recognizes the importance for women to access reproductive health services, including proper and thorough pre- and post-natal health services and access to family planning services. They stress the importance of sexuality and reproductive health education. In addition, they also identify forced and child marriages as a violation of sexual and reproductive rights.
On July 6, 2007, Amnesty USA publicly answered the Catholic Church in an open letter to further strengthen their stance and their decision to acknowledge reproductive rights as part of their human rights platform. Click here to view the letter.
To view their current position on sexual and reproductive rights issues, click here.