Section outline

  • SRHR - A strenght and a challenge

    Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) have for long been both a strength and a challenge for Christian Faith-based organisations (FBOs) in their international cooperation and work with holistic mission. 

    Many churches and Christian FBOs have for decades worked to support maternal care, including family planning, and the prevention of child marriages, FGM and gender-based violence in many different contexts.


    • Examples of faith-based SRHR work Interactive Content

    • The area of SRHR continues to bring challenges to societies and faith communities in many parts of the world due to harmful gender norms, taboos, stigmas and polarising issues such as HIV/AIDS, abortion and sexual orientation and gender identity rights (SOGIE rights). Quite often it can be representatives of the state that are hesitant to all aspects of SRHR, but SRHR is in itself also a contested concept among religious actors, including Christian FBOs.

      SRHR and human rights

      Often this concerns situations of real or perceived human rights conflicts or when interpretations of religious teachings believed to be ordained by God are seen as having a higher authority than human rights, which then are perceived as merely human constructs. In other cases, different groups, also within Christianity, position themselves against each other competing for the same human rights. Freedom of religion or belief is for example a human right which is claimed by religious groups with very different convictions concerning abortion and same-sex marriage. Cultural norms also play an important part in how SRHR are perceived in various contexts and often cultural and religious norms are difficult to separate from each other regardless of whether these norms support SRHR or not. 

      Understanding and respect

      Fostering an understanding of, and respect for, SRHR is crucial for effective progress toward gender equality and achieving the sustainable development goals outlined in Agenda 2030. For this to happen a contextual and conflict-sensitive approach to SRHR with a high level of religious literacy is important. All faith communities are diverse and multifaceted.

      Increase local ownership

      When religious actors own the different aspects of SRHR themselves, without instrumentalisation from the outside, there is usually also an increased understanding and local ownership of SRHR. One way to increase local ownership of SRHR is by a proper application of a rights-based approach methodology where FORB and SRHR are seen as interrelated universal human rights rather than placed in a stand-off position against each other. It can also be done by understanding and encouraging religious actors ability to speak about SRHR through theology and faith-oriented language and human rights. Allowing time and space for both internal and external dialogue within faith communities, between FBOs and secular actors as and in relation to legal duty bearers on SRHR is also important.

    • why are SRHR so important?

             

    • SMC Gender Policy - Swedish File
    • SRHR according to the Guttmacher-Lancet multidisciplinary commission (definition of SRHR applied by Sida) Interactive Content
    • Read the entire Guttmacher-Lancett interdiciplinary report File

      Read the summary here or download the full report as a PDF by clicking the heading above.

    • SRHR in Sida's fundamental principles for cooperation File
      Organisations seeking financial support should understand Sida’s approach to SRHR and review their fundamental principles for financial cooperation, available via the provided link or by clicking the heading above.
    • SRHR and the UN Interactive Content

  • Learn more through a course!




    The Global Health eLearning Center offers different courses aimed at increasing knowledge in a variety of global health technical areas.

    You can earn a certificate in a variety of global health areas by successfully completing all courses within a program area.

    This UNHCR course raises awareness about how acts of sexual exploitation and abuse impact individuals and whole communities and what to do about it.

  • Further resources


       A Tearfund toolkit

       A Tearfund toolkit



    Norwegian Church Aid's Hub 
    for Sexual and Reproductive Health

    Free but demands registration