DRAFT: Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda

This is a draft working paper on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the context of the post-2015 framework. Universal health insurance is a critical factor in achieving health coverage because of the role it can play in providing financial protection against expensive health costs. Equally the design of health insurance schemes can have major implications for women and girls as it can either facilitate or impede access to sexual and reproductive health services. For example compulsory social insurance schemes that are linked to formal employment may exclude from coverage large proportions of women who work in the informal sector, or do not participate in waged employment. On the other hand, social protection health insurance schemes that target poor and marginalised women with no-fee services or conditional cash transfers may facilitate access to services as well as simultaneously incentivising health-seeking behaviour. The post-2015 development framework should also focus on impediments to receiving sexual and reproductive rights and health, such as social and cultural norms and encourage specific associated programmes. Suggestions include addressing the deprioritisation of immunisations for girls in countries where son preference is prevalent, or stigma and discrimination against unmarried women seeking sexual health services in health facilities.