UNFPA's Rights-Based Fertility Approach

Context:

The UNFPA Global State of World Population Report (2024) has emphasized that the global fertility crisis is rooted not in the number of births, but in the denial of reproductive agency and rights, especially among women. It advocates for a rights-based and lifecycle approach to reproductive health policy.

Understanding UNFPA’s Global Population Perspective

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency operating in over 150 countries.
The 2024 Global Report moves beyond fertility statistics to emphasize reproductive agency, women’s autonomy, and lifecourse investments.

Key Concept: The Real Fertility Crisis

The crisis lies not in high or low birth rates, but in women’s inability to exercise informed reproductive choices.
One in four women globally lack the autonomy to say no to sex or decide when and with whom to have children.

UNFPA’s Rights-Based Approach

Rejects coercive pronatalist policies (e.g., baby bonuses, fertility mandates).
Focuses on:
- Affordable housing and childcare
- Decent work and parental leave
- Access to fertility and reproductive health services
- Gender-equitable social policies
- Legal and social recognition of all family types, including LGBTQIA+

Structural Determinants of Fertility Decline

Gender norms, income insecurity, conflict, and pandemic-induced uncertainty are major non-biological factors impacting fertility decisions.
UNFPA urges governments to invest in “demographic resilience” by adapting policies to societal needs rather than manipulating fertility targets.

Implications for India

India, with a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) already below replacement in many states, must avoid coercive pronatalism.
Instead, it should focus on:
- Strengthening adolescent reproductive health
- Enhancing women's employment and education
- Upholding reproductive rights through legal safeguards