Rights, technology, and services in reproductive health. A report from a meeting, 6-7 May 1999

The Population Council’s Robert H. Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health convened a two-day meeting to explore some of the compelling issues at the intersection of technology, services, and rights. Nearly 70 professionals from the research, policy, service delivery, human rights, and advocacy fields came together to grapple with some of the political aspects of reproductive technologies. Participants also discussed how these technologies can facilitate or constrain rights, depending on the interests involved and the particular social, political, and economic contexts in which they are used. This report on the meeting concludes that in order for program managers and healthcare providers to offer quality reproductive health care, employing technologies in accordance with clients’ reproductive rights is key. For those developing or seeking to implement reproductive technologies, it is important to understand the concept of reproductive rights and the parameters of service-delivery systems