How Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services is Key to the MDGs

This fact sheet looks at the relationship between access to sexual and reproductive health services and five of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The authors argue that poor reproductive health is hindering countries' efforts to achieve the MDGs and that access to reproductive health services influences global security by helping to hasten the demographic transition.

The fact sheet provides evidence for the impact of sexual and reproductive health services on each of five MDGs:

• MDG 1: Eradicate Poverty & Hunger
• MDG 3: Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women
• MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health
• MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & Other Diseases
• MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability

The fact sheet also presents a series of recommendations:

• Donors focused on achieving the MDGs must ensure adequate financial resources for sexual and reproductive health services.
• Commitment, greater capacity and coordination are needed to generate the necessary human, financial and other resources required to provide sexual and reproductive health services to all who need them.
• Donor and developing countries are encouraged to employ stronger sexual and reproductive health language.
• The international community must ensure that reproductive health and HIV/AIDS initiatives are mutually reinforcing.
• The international community's commitment to poverty reduction and development must not be diluted.