The Role of Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Social Work Practice

Abstract

The understanding and promotion of sexual and reproductive rights are essential in the social work profession, not only to improve the health status of affected populations but to advocate effectively for social justice and to respond to globalized realities. This article highlights the relevance of sexual and reproductive rights in the philosophical foundation and practice of social work, emphasizes the impact of reproductive health and rights on women's lives, and proposes a social work agenda that will embrace and promote sexual and reproductive rights. It uses policy statements from the International Federation of Social Workers as well as a human rights framework focused on sexual and reproductive rights that stems from the global feminist movement.

Social Justice: A Shared Paradigm for Social Work & Religion?

“…A decade later The Fourth World Conference on Women in Bejing in 1995 clearly publicized the positive relationship between the level of reproductive rights and reproductive health. Reproductive rights and reproductive health has specific effects on women's lives and are essential to achieving gender equality (Alzate, 2009). …”

Social Work Grand Challenges and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals: Linking Social Work and Women’s Health

“…While the Grand Challenges address the needs of women in the United States, the issues highlighted are applicable to women around the globe. The "global women's movement" (NASW, n.d.; Alzate, 2009) sheds light on such elements yet the status of women in relation to men remains unequal. The National Association of Social Work (NASW) recognizes such inequality and is advancing policy and practices to protect and improve the wellbeing of all women.…”

“…Additionally, promoting both sexual and reproductive rights are essential pieces to such efforts for purposes of improving the health status of women. A 2009 study highlighted the relevancy of sexual and reproductive rights as large pieces of the foundation and practice of social work stressing a framework that should focus on health needs that stem from a "global feminist movement" (Alzate, 2009). "Women's rights are ultimately human rights," as noted by recently by Secretary of State Clinton.…”

Swedish Social Work Students’ Attitudes Toward Addressing Sexual Health Issues in Their Future Profession

“…Sexual health is considered an important part of people's physical and mental wellbeing, closely related to sexual rights [1] which is an important area for social work. Social work also includes advocating effectively for social justice and responding to global realities, which is connected to sexual and reproductive health and rights [2]. Social workers find sexual health issues relevant to their clinical work, and yet there has been a lack of education in this field in social work education [3,4].…”