Obligation to fulfil 12/16

45. The obligation to fulfil requires States to adopt appropriate legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial, promotional and other measures to ensure the full realization of the right to sexual and reproductive health. 36 States should aim to ensure universal access without discrimination for all individuals, including those from disadvantaged and marginalized groups, to a full range of quality sexual and reproductive health care, including maternal health care; contraceptive information and services; safe abortion care; and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility, reproductive cancers, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS, including with generic medicines. States must guarantee physical and mental health care for survivors of sexual and domestic violence in all situations, including access to post-exposure prevention, emergency contraception and safe abortion services.

 46. The obligation to fulfil also requires States to take measures to eradicate practical barriers to the full realization of the right to sexual and reproductive health, such as disproportionate costs and lack of physical or geographical access to sexual and reproductive health care. States must ensure that health-care providers are adequately trained on the provision of quality and respectful sexual and reproductive health services and ensure that such providers are equitably distributed throughout the State.

47. States must develop and enforce evidence-based standards and guidelines for the provision and delivery of sexual and reproductive health services, and such guidance must be routinely updated to incorporate medical advancements. At the same time, States are required to provide age-appropriate, evidence-based, scientifically accurate comprehensive education for all on sexual and reproductive health. 37

48. States must also take affirmative measures to eradicate social barriers in terms of norms or beliefs that inhibit individuals of different ages and genders, women, girls and adolescents from autonomously exercising their right to sexual and reproductive health. Social misconceptions, prejudices and taboos about menstruation, pregnancy, delivery, masturbation, wet dreams, vasectomy and fertility should be modified so that these do not obstruct an individual’s enjoyment of the right to sexual and reproductive health.

36 See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights general comment No. 14, paras. 33 and 36-37.

37 See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights general comment No. 14; Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women general recommendation No. 30 on women in conflict prevention, conflict and post-conflict situation

https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G16/089/32/PDF/G1608932.pdf