Producing Reproductive Rights
Determining Abortion Policy Worldwide

Offers a unique analysis of abortion policy worldwide focusing on effects of civil society, national governments and intergovernmental organizations.

Udi Sommer (Author), Aliza Forman-Rabinovici (Author)

9781108493161, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 August 2019

234 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 1.7 cm, 0.46 kg

'The result is a rich, multilevel, cross-aggregate analysis describing conditions that support abortion rights … Providing good empirical testing of many theories and suggesting a future research agenda and policy prescriptions, this is an excellent resource.' D. Schultz, Choice

With events and movements such as #MeToo, the Gender Equality UN Sustainable Development Goal, the Irish and Chilean abortion policy changes, and the worldwide Women's March movement, women's rights are at the top of the global public agenda. Yet, countries around the world continue to debate if and how women should have access to reproductive rights, and specifically abortion. This book provides the most comprehensive comparative review of this topic to date. How are reproductive rights produced? This book analyzes three spheres of influence on abortion policymaking: civil society, national government, and international bodies. It engages scholars as well as undergraduate and graduate students in social sciences, law, gender studies, and development and sustainability studies. With insights into the influence of intergovernmental bodies, international health organizations, state-level political representatives, and religious civil society players, this book will be of interest to policymakers, organizations and individuals concerned with influencing reproductive policy.

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Introduction: producing reproductive rights
Part I. Civil Society Sphere: 2. The civil society sphere: religion and reproductive health
3. The politics of religion and reproductive health: the cases of Chile and Bahrain
Part II. State Government Sphere: 4. The sphere of national governments: dimensions of representation
5. Reproductive rights and the nation-state: the cases of New Zealand and Rwanda
Part III. The International Sphere: 6. The international sphere: going beyond civil society and the nation-state
7. Case studies from the international sphere: The ICPD PoA and the African Union
8. Conclusions: final thoughts and avenues for future comparative research on abortion.

Subject Areas: Religious freedom / freedom of worship [JPVH4], Civil rights & citizenship [JPVH1], Human rights [JPVH], Political control & freedoms [JPV], International relations [JPS], Public administration [JPP], Comparative politics [JPB], Ethical issues: abortion & birth control [JFMA]