Legal Definitions - reproductive rights

Reproductive rights refer to a person's fundamental legal entitlements concerning their ability to decide freely and responsibly about their own body and family planning, free from discrimination, coercion, or violence. These rights encompass a range of civil liberties related to pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, and sterilization, emphasizing an individual's personal autonomy in making decisions about whether to become pregnant, carry a pregnancy to term, or have children.

Here are some examples illustrating reproductive rights:

• Access to Contraception: A person has the right to access and use various forms of contraception, such as birth control pills, IUDs, or condoms, without legal restrictions or spousal consent requirements. This allows them to control if and when they become pregnant.

  This illustrates reproductive rights by affirming an individual's autonomy to prevent pregnancy and plan their family, reflecting the right to control one's procreative activities.

• Protection Against Forced Sterilization: An individual cannot be forced by a government, medical institution, or any other entity to undergo sterilization (a medical procedure that permanently prevents pregnancy). This includes situations where a person with a disability might be pressured into such a procedure without their full, informed consent.

  This demonstrates reproductive rights by upholding the principle that decisions about permanent reproductive capacity must be voluntary and free from coercion, protecting an individual's bodily integrity and choice regarding their ability to have children.

• Decision-Making Regarding Pregnancy: A pregnant individual has the legal right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy to term or to seek an abortion, in accordance with applicable laws. This decision is considered a deeply personal one, protected by the individual's right to privacy and bodily autonomy.

  This example highlights reproductive rights by recognizing an individual's fundamental liberty to make critical choices about their body and future, specifically regarding the continuation or termination of a pregnancy, free from undue governmental interference or external pressure.