A good sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, social, and pychological well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system, sexuality, and sexual relationships. It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to build health relationships and reproduce, and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. To maintain sexual and reproductive health, people must have access to accurate information, informed and empowered about safe and effective contraception methods to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections.

Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health, to have pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence. While SRHR covers a wide range of topics; sexual rights include the right to sexual education, freedom from sexual violence or coercion, and the right to decide whether or not to have children. While reproductive rights include access to contraception, access to menstrual products, access to safe and legal abortions and ensuring safe pregnancies and childbirth. They also deal with eliminating female genital mutilation or forced sterilisation and preventing sexually transmitted infections.

What all these rights have in common is that they require access to health care services and medicines, health education programmes, and awareness-raising campaigns. Thus, sexual and reproductive health and rights constitutes a part of the healthcare system, and equal access to healthcare is guaranteed by the human rights convention on fundamental rights. It is thus crucial to highlight that, in order to understand and fully recognise SRHR, it cannot be discussed as an option that a state has to consider. SRHR is essential, meaning that state institutions as the duty-bearers have an obligation to ensure access to SRHR, and failing to do so is inadmissibly a breach of our fundamental rights.