Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Priority Statement – Healthy Start in Life

The priority statement on Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) outlines Save the Children’s approach investing in the quality, impact, and profile of SRHR with a particular focus on adolescents.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) has immediate and long-term consequences for the health of women, adolescents, newborns, and children. Adolescents are particularly at risk and often experience threats to their SRHR through child, early, and forced marriages and unions, early and unintended pregnancy, and sexual and gender-based violence. Increasing access to reproductive services like modern contraception and quality maternal care could prevent 1 in 3 maternal deaths and 1 in 5 child deaths.

Save the Children improves SRHR for women and adolescents, including those with disabilities, through comprehensive sexuality education, robust social and behavior change with communities, inclusive of gender transformative approaches, and integrated service delivery across development and humanitarian contexts. We advocate for policy change and anticipatory action at global and national levels, and design programs that address multiple determinants of health, including the impacts of COVID-19, conflict, and climate change. We work alongside partners to create system-wide change to bring sustainable and resilient solutions to children, adolescents, families, and their communities.