Using Culturally Sensitive Approaches

Promoting Human Rights through Culturally Sensitive Approaches

Culturally sensitive approaches are a means by which UNFPA and its development partners can more effectively make basic human rights -- especially those dealing with reproductive health and women's empowerment -- a reality in the countries we serve.

The modern human rights system is based on a series of legally binding international treaties (see below) that make use of principles of ethics and social justice, many of which are directly relevant to reproductive health care. By emphasizing fundamental values, a rights-based approach can shape humane and effective reproductive health programmes and policies.

The following chart describes some of the fundamental rights that UNFPA helps to promote, and some of the interventions that we undertake to make those rights a reality. The publication, Culture Matters, describes in more detail how these rights were operationalized through case studies documenting projects in nine countries.

A training manual has been created by UNFPA to explain how to promote human rights, especially gender equality, in a culturally sensitive manner.

Human Rights	Establishing Agreement	Rights-Based Actions
Right to life and survival	UDHR, article 3 ICCPR, article 6 CRC, article 6	Prevent avoidable maternal deaths End pre-natal sex selection and female infanticide Screen for cancers that can be detected early and treated. Ensure access to dual-protection contraceptive methods
Right to liberty and security of the person	UDHR, article 25 ICESCR, article 12 CEDAW. Articles 11, 12 and 14	Eliminate female genital cutting Encourage clients to make independent reproductive health decisions
Right to marry and establish a family	CEDAW. Articles 11, 12 and 14	Prevent early or coerced marriages
Right to decide the number and spacing of one's children	UDHR, article 12 ICCPR, article 17 ICESCR, article 10 CEDAW, article 16 CRC, article 16	Provide access to a range of modern contraceptive methods Help people choose and use a family planning method
Right to the highest attainable standard of health	ICESCR, article 12 CEDAW, articles 12 and 14 CRC, article 24	Provide access to affordable, acceptable, and comprehensive reproductive health services
Rights to the benefits of scientific progress	UDHR, article 27 ICESCR, article 15	Fund research on women's as well as men's health needs Provide access to obstetric care that can prevent maternal deaths
Right to receive and impart information	UDHR, article 19 ICCPR, article 19 CEDAW, articles 10, 14, 16 CRC, articles 12, 13 and 17	Make family planning information freely available Offer sufficient information for people to make informed reproductive health decisions.

Source: Adapted from Culture Matters, page 4

The major treaties referenced in the table include:

For information on UNFPA's work to protect the human rights of indigenous peoples, see www.unfpa.org/sustainable/rights.htm

Key Publications

Using Culturally Sensitive Approaches

Promoting Human Rights through Culturally Sensitive Approaches