Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act of 2018
This bill directs the Department of State to include in its annual reports on human rights in countries receiving U.S. development and security assistance a discussion of the status of reproductive rights in each country, including whether a country has adopted policies to: (1) promote access to contraception, (2) provide services to ensure safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth, (3) expand or restrict access to safe abortion services, (4) prevent maternal deaths, and (5) prevent and treat sexually transmitted diseases.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7228 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7228
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the Annual
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices a section on reproductive
rights, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 10, 2018
Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Engel, Ms.
Lee, Ms. Frankel of Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Clarke of New
York, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Meng, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Hastings,
Ms. Norton, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Ruppersberger, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Wilson of
Florida, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Payne, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Ms. DeLauro, Ms. Titus, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Mr.
Castro of Texas, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Mr.
DeFazio, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Quigley, Mrs. Lawrence,
Mr. McGovern, Mr. Pallone, Mrs. Napolitano, Miss Rice of New York, Ms.
Schakowsky, Ms. Lofgren, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr.
Espaillat, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Judy
Chu of California, Ms. Speier, and Mr. Pocan) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the Annual
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices a section on reproductive
rights, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Reproductive Rights are Human Rights
Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The United States has repeatedly agreed to
international agreements that identify reproductive rights as
human rights, including in connection with the 1994
International Conference on Population and Development and the
1995 Beijing World Conference on Women.
(2) The Department of State's deletion of the reproductive
rights subsection from its 2017 Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices demonstrates an alarming level of politicization of
human rights by the Trump Administration and undermines the
human rights of women around the world.
(3) Restrictions on reproductive rights compromise entire
health systems and communities, as when women's rights are
limited, so are their pathways to economic, social, and
political empowerment.
(4) Sexual health and reproductive rights are essential for
sustainable economic development, are intrinsically linked to
gender equality and women's well-being, and are critical to
maternal, newborn, child, adolescent, family, and community
health.
SEC. 3. ANNUAL COUNTRY REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES.
(a) In General.--The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended--
(1) in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d))--
(A) in paragraph (11)(C), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(B) in paragraph (12)(C)(ii), by striking the
period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(13) the status of reproductive rights in each country
(as defined in the 1994 International Conference on Population
and Development Programme of Action, reiterated in the 1995
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and expanded upon
in General comment No. 36 (2018) on article 6 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on the
right to life and other authoritative interpretations of
binding international human rights obligations), including--
``(A) whether such country has adopted policies
to--
``(i) promote access to and prevalence of
safe, effective, and affordable methods of
contraception;
``(ii) promote access to appropriate health
care services to ensure safe and healthy
pregnancy and childbirth, including safe and
effective prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal
care for both mother and child;
``(iii) expand or restrict access to safe
abortion services, in accordance with such
country's laws, including post-abortion care;
``(iv) prevent maternal deaths; and
``(v) promote the prevention, detection,
and treatment of sexually transmitted
infections, including HIV, and of reproductive
tract infections and of reproductive cancers;
``(B) information relating to the adequacy of
resources, enforcement, and oversight in such country
dedicated to the policies specified in subparagraph
(A);
``(C) wherever applicable, a description of the
rates and causes of maternal deaths in such country,
including deaths due to unsafe abortions;
``(D) wherever applicable, a description of the
nature and extent of instances of discrimination,
coercion, and violence against women and girls in
health care settings in such country, and the actions,
if any, taken by the government of such country to
respond to such discrimination, coercion, and violence;
and
``(E) wherever applicable, a description of the
nature and extent of instances of denial of
comprehensive and accurate family planning information
and services in such country, and the actions, if any,
taken by the government of such country to respond to
such denials.''; and
(2) in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)--
(A) by redesignating the second subsection (i)
(relating to child marriage status) as subsection (j);
and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(k) The report required under subsection (b) shall include the
status of reproductive rights in each country (as defined in the 1994
International Conference on Population and Development Programme of
Action, reiterated in the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for
Action, and expanded upon in General comment No. 36 (2018) on article 6
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, on the
right to life and other authoritative interpretations of binding
international human rights obligations), including--
``(1) whether such country has adopted policies to--
``(A) promote access to and prevalence of safe,
effective, and affordable methods of contraception;
``(B) promote access to appropriate health care
services to ensure safe and healthy pregnancy and
childbirth, including safe and effective prenatal,
childbirth, and postnatal care for both mother and
child;
``(C) expand or restrict access to safe abortion
services, in accordance with such country's laws,
including post-abortion care;
``(D) prevent maternal deaths; and
``(E) promote the prevention, detection, and
treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including
HIV, and of reproductive tract infections and of
reproductive cancers;
``(2) information relating to the adequacy of resources,
enforcement, and oversight of such country dedicated to the
policies specified in paragraph (1);
``(3) wherever applicable, a description of the rates and
causes of maternal deaths in such country, including deaths due
to unsafe abortions;
``(4) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and
extent of instances of discrimination, coercion, and violence
against women and girls in health care settings in such
country, and the actions, if any, taken by the government of
such country to respond to such discrimination, coercion, and
violence; and
``(5) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and
extent of instances of denial of comprehensive and accurate
family planning information and services in such country, and
the actions, if any, taken by the government of such country to
respond to such denials.''.
(b) Consultation Required.--In preparing the Annual Country Reports
on Human Rights Practices required under sections 116(d) and 502B of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as amended by subsection (a)), the
Secretary of State, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy,
Human Rights, and Labor, and other relevant officials, including human
rights officers at United States diplomatic and consular posts shall
consult with--
(1) representatives of United States civil society and
multilateral organizations with demonstrated experience and
expertise in sexual and reproductive health and rights or
promoting women and girls' human rights, including local civil
society organizations whenever possible; and
(2) local organizations in all countries included in such
Reports, including women and girls' organizations focused on
sexual and reproductive health and rights.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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