E/C.12/GC/22
United Nations
Economic and Social Council
Distr.: General
2 May 2016
Original: English
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
General comment No. 22 (2016) on the right to sexual and
reproductive health (article 12 of the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights)
I.
Introduction
1.
The right to sexual and reproductive health is an integral part of the right to health
enshrined in article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights.1 It is also reflected in other international human rights instruments. 2 The adoption of
the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development
in 1994 further highlighted reproductive and sexual health issues within the human rights
framework. 3 Since then, international and regional human rights standards and
jurisprudence related to the right to sexual and reproductive health have considerably
evolved. Most recently, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes goals and
targets to be achieved in the area of sexual and reproductive health.4
2.
Due to numerous legal, procedural, practical and social barriers, access to the full
range of sexual and reproductive health facilities, services, goods and information is
seriously restricted. In fact, the full enjoyment of the right to sexual and reproductive health
1
2
3
4
See Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights general comment No. 14 (2000) on
the right to the highest attainable standard of health, paras. 2, 8, 11, 16, 21, 23, 34 and 36.
See Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, art. 12;
Convention on the Rights of the Child, arts. 17, 23-25 and 27; and Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, arts. 23 and 25. See also Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women general recommendation No. 24 (1999) on women and health,
paras 11, 14, 18, 23, 26, 29, 31 (b); and Committee on the Rights of the Child general comment
No. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health.
Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo 5-13 September
1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex. The
Programme of Action is based on 15 principles. Principle 1 states that “All human beings are
born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
United Nations, Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
adopted by the General Assembly in September 2015. Goal 3 of the 2030 Agenda is “Ensure
healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”, and Goal 5 is “Achieve gender
equality and empower all women and girls”.
GE.16-05356(E)