The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) which was held in Cairo, 1994 announced the adoption of a new discourse to address the issue of human reproduction and health. heralded the adoption of a new approach to thinking about human reproduction and health. Primarily, there was a distinct focus on meeting the needs of individuals and empowering women. Secondly, a developing discourse about the relationship between human rights and health emerged, connecting new conceptions of health to the pursuit of social justice and human dignity.
In addition to their status in society and pervasive gender discrimination, women’s access to health services affects their overall health and their sexual and reproductive health in particular. Thus, the ICPD asserts that women’s human rights—their right to individual reproductive autonomy and to gender equality—should serve as a guiding principle in the creation of reproductive health and population programmes.