Sexual and reproductive health and rights: A useful discourse for feminist analysis and activism? Sexual and reproductive health and rights: a useful discourse for feminist analysis and activism?

The fight for sexual and reproductive rights has been the cornerstone of feminist activism and struggle for many decades. The second wave of feminism saw women’s organisations and feminists mobilising around (amongst other important struggles for political and social equality) the right to abortion, access to safe contraceptives, better policies and laws to address rape, domestic violence and the eradication of female genital mutilation. As a movement, we have won battles and we have lost battles. Issues such as HIV and AIDS threaten to – and have – eroded some of our gains, and the sexual and reproductive rights of marginalised women are particularly contested sites of struggle. Indeed, many struggles still remain before women experience the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health, rights and freedoms; and the reality is that feminist organisations and movements are unable to effect such changes alone. In order for women to realise sexual and reproductive rights, international and national state and non-state actors need to play a critical role.