Guiding Principles

The work of the SOGC's International Women's Health Program is guided by the following principles

• Health professionals have the obligation to defend and promote women's sexual and reproductive rights.
  
  
• All women should have access to comprehensive reproductive health care, skilled attendance at birth and timely access to emergency obstetric and newborn care.
  
  
• Safe motherhood and newborn health are two basic human rights. Defending and promoting them are a matter of social justice, professional responsibility and moral obligation.
  
  
• Women's poor sexual and reproductive health is influenced by a number of socioeconomic and cultural factors, all of which need to be taken into account in order to improve women's health.
  
  
• Women's empowerment is a prerequisite for improved sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  
  
• Sexual and reproductive health services, including essential obstetrical care (EOC) should be provided through the primary health care system.
  
  
• Health professionals and their professional associations have an obligation in ensuring women's access to quality sexual and reproductive health services.
  
  
• North-South and South-South Partnerships should be promoted as the most effective means to defend sexual and reproductive rights globally, regionally and nationally.