Women's Reproductive Rights in the Inter-American System of Human Rights: Conclusions from the Field, June-September 2014

25 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2015

See all articles by Ciara O'Connell

Ciara O'Connell

University of Pretoria, Faculty of Law, Centre for Human Rights, Students

Date Written: January 2015

Abstract

The Inter-American System of Human Rights has proven to be a forum for the advancement of women’s reproductive rights in the Inter-American region. However, the Inter-American System faces significant challenges in promoting structural transformative change that enables women’s enjoyment of their reproductive health rights. This report examines three reproductive rights cases from the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: María Mamerita Mestanza Chávez v. Peru; Paulina Ramirez Jacinto v. Mexico; and Artavia Murillo et al. v. Costa Rica. In the summer of 2014, interviews were conducted with representatives in each of the case study countries, with the objective of the research being two-fold: (1) to understand how each of the cases developed, and the subsequent challenges and advancements; and (2) to learn from these cases in order to suggest recommendations for how actors can make better use of the Inter-American System as one of several avenues for protecting, promoting and fulfilling women’s reproductive rights. The report first discusses challenges in implementing women’s reproductive health rights, and then explores how the Inter-American System can strengthen its work on women’s reproductive health rights.

Keywords: Reproductive rights, Human rights, Inter-American System of Human Rights, Gender, Reparations

Suggested Citation

O'Connell, Ciara, Women's Reproductive Rights in the Inter-American System of Human Rights: Conclusions from the Field, June-September 2014 (January 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2555732 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2555732

Ciara O'Connell (Contact Author)

University of Pretoria, Faculty of Law, Centre for Human Rights, Students ( email )

Private Bag X20
Hatfield 0028
Pretoria
South Africa

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