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reproductive justice
The right to have a baby – or not

Who decides who should have children and access to
contraception? Rachael Eastham and her team find attitudes
are limiting control and the ability to make decisions

research team are seeking the We are concerned that there are some
answers to some fundamental situations in sexual and reproductive
A questions about reproductive rights healthcare that are making it hard for
and choices in collaboration with people people with learning disabilities to decide
with learning disabilities. if and when to get pregnant.
We already know that throughout This can compromise reproductive
history people with learning disabilities rights. For example, there are cases where
have been told what to do and restricted women with learning disabilities are
when it comes to decisions about encouraged to use methods of
reproduction such as having sex, using contraception that last for a long time (five
contraception and having a baby. years) when that is not their preference.
Frameworks such as the Mental These types of contraception include
Capacity Act 2005 may be used to find out the implant, which is placed under the
whether people can consent to sex and skin in the upper arm, and intrauterine
decide whether they want to have contraceptives (the coil), a device inserted
children or not. into the uterus (womb). Choice, consent, contraception and being a
We would like to know more about how Once you have these methods of parent were the big questions at Reprofest
these decisions are made and if or how contraception in place, it can then be
this may be different to what is written difficult to get them removed when you make decisions about contraception.
down in the law and in policy. want to have a baby, even more so at the While some people may benefit from
moment because additional support to do this or may have
lots of sexual health medical needs to consider, we are aware
“The team are buzzing following services have closed that there can be a fine line between
the training! Such a great mix of a and there are having additional support and being
human rights challenge, debate limited staff. pressured to take certain options.
and practical resources leading to On the other We are interested in taking a
the team committing to action.” hand, it may reproductive justice approach to ensure
Manager, Wales
be hard for the rights of people to make decisions
you to access about their own bodies are upheld and
The Reach Standards in support for contraception in the that assumptions about or discrimination
living: training package first place when you towards people with learning disabilities
do want to use it. do not unfairly influence the guidance
This one-day, co-facilitated training for up to 24 To find out more, that people receive about contraception.
participants will help all to: see the All Party Reproductive justice combines
Understand and apply Reach in practice Parliamentary reproductive rights and social justice. You
Focus on ensuring great support for each person Group on Sexual can find out more about it at https://
Hold human rights at the core of all they do and Reproductive www.sistersong.net/reproductive-justice.
Use Reach to provide evidence for regulators and others
Embed reflective practice Health in the UK’s
Inspire positive culture change report Women’s Gaps in research
Lives, Women’s Research published last year by members
This training includesh two years’ membership of the Reach Rights: of our research team in association with
Network, which provides: Strengthening the British Pregnancy Advisory Service,
Reach films for each standard Access to Decolonising Contraception and Shine
Resources (such as communication cards and
recruitment resources Contraception Aloud UK found many people felt www.goodthingscollective.co.uk; Saramikr/Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0
Online phone advice Beyond the pressured and discriminated against when
3 The Reach online learning community Pandemic (https:// it came to making decisions about their
Discounted Reach training tinyurl.com/ contraceptive method because, for
2dyrbuar). example, of their age, ethnicity or
Cost: £1,250 plus expenses and VAT
Little information sexual orientation.
www.paradigm-uk.org or email is available on how However, for this report, we were
hello@paradigm-uk.org people with unable to speak directly to many people
learning disabilities with learning disabilities and learn about
are supported to their experiences.

18 Vol 35 No 4 | Summer 2022 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk