Development

, Volume 48, Issue 4, pp 69–74 | Cite as

Reproductive Rights Advocacy: Concentration of effort, dilution of intention

  • Pascale Allotey
  • Daniel D Reidpath
Thematic Section

Abstract

Pascale Allotey and Daniel D. Reidpath discuss the issue of female genital cutting and obstetric fistulae within the context of reproductive rights advocacy. They use these examples to discuss the potential effects on the broader reproductive rights agenda of interventions that focus narrowly on what is often a symptom of unaddressed structural violence. They argue for a broader rights approach rather than simply focusing on ameliorating the specific harm, in order to focus on the more fundamental goal, that is, the promotion of the positive freedoms.

Keywords

obstetric fistula female genital cutting health women's rights campaigns violence against women 

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Copyright information

© Society for International Development 2005

Authors and Affiliations

  • Pascale Allotey
  • Daniel D Reidpath

There are no affiliations available

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