Resolution on “Access To Care”

(Reviewed and approved by FIGO Executive Board – June 2006 and adopted by the FIGO General Assembly on 7th November 2006)

- Recognizing that sexual and reproductive health services need to be available, accessible and acceptable, as required by international human rights treaties and national constitutions, to ensure that women’s right to health, security of their person and equality are realized, and

- Recognizing the grave harm to access to beneficial care that has occurred where health policy and law has been framed without careful consideration of the body of best scientific evidence or with lack of clarity that creates confusion, and

- Recognizing the obligation that member societies hold, because of their unique expertise in women’s health, to promote the highest quality of sexual and reproductive health care for women and

- Noting that the shortage and maldistribution of human resources and the neglect of care that only women need inhibit and prevent access to care:

FIGO calls on its member societies to:

• Address barriers to women’s sexual and reproductive health care and serve as leaders to expand access with partnering with properly trained and regulated health providers.

• Assure that policies that impact the direct care of women are based on the best available medical evidence.  Where such evidence is lacking, societies must support research and dissemination of results to develop evidence basis for health policy.

• Advocate for fair and affordable access to sexual and reproductive health services for women irrespective of their marital, racial/ethnic, age, socioeconomic, citizenship, religious or other status.

• Advocate for health policy, law and care delivery that provides clear and transparent criteria for both health providers and women seeking care.

London, March 2006