Are Reproductive Rights Human Rights?

When the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June 2022, it was a blow not only to reproductive health in the States, but to human rights across the globe. Reproductive justice – individuals’ freedom to control decisions regarding contraception, abortion, sterilisation, and childbirth – is a human right, and the decision set a dangerous example.

A new series of Monash University’s podcast, “What Happens Next?”, examines the state of reproductive health and rights today. Women's reproductive healthcare has historically been overlooked by medical science and is still treated as taboo in many cultures. Is women's healthcare behind men's? How does making reproductive healthcare inaccessible hurt us all?

Host Dr Susan Carland is joined by guests including medical historian Dr Paula Michaels, human rights law expert Dr Tania Penovic, pharmacist Dr Safeera Hussainy and pharmacology researcher Dr Sab Ventura.

A listener note: “What Happens Next?” uses the word “women” throughout the series, but we acknowledge and emphasise that these matters are not restricted to cisgender women alone. All people assigned female at birth are affected by these issues and often face even greater challenges because of them. Including everyone in the conversation and when advancing solutions is the only way forward.

Please also note that since this episode was recorded, the FDA has removed the wording about preventing implantation from the Plan B label – a major step forward – due to advocacy and lobbying by policy/public health organisations.

A full transcript of this episode is available on Monash Lens.

Learn more:

Now that Roe v Wade has been overturned, what are the consequences?  Breaking down contraception barriers to empower all women  Male fertility: The biological clock ticks for men, too, and affects IVF success 

“What Happens Next?” will be back next week with part two of this series, “What Is Reproductive Justice?”.

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