The right to contraception and the wrongs of restrictive services

Rights come with responsibilities for individuals, service providers, and purveyors. The operationalization of the right to contraception, for universal access to a wide range of effective methods, necessitates very different but complementary interventions. A rights-based approach should aim to respect, protect, and fulfill rights. The wishes of individuals concerning childbearing necessitate informed choice, access to services, and lack of prejudice. Equity should be addressed through the strengthening of health systems, especially primary health care, with emphasis on the needs of underserved populations. Official pronouncements on population issues necessitate commitments. A philosophy of rights is particularly useful for service implementation, including the introduction of new contraceptive methods, by addressing the responsibilities of duty bearers and the claims of right holders. With the rights to and overwhelming health benefits of contraception, it is imperative to reverse the wrongs of limited reproductive health services.