The Woman not the Womb - Population Control vs. Women's Reproductive Rights,

Balchin, C. Mumtaz, K and Shaheed. F
Shirkat Gah, 1994.

Chapters: Chapter 1 Introduction, Chapter 2 Policies and Perspectives, Chapter 3 Conceptualizing women's Health and Reproductive Rights, Chapter 4 Women's Health: Status and Services, Chapter 5 Conclusion

This paper examines Pakistan's population policy challenging the premise that population planning equals family planning, which in turn equals fertility control. The argument therein is that it is time for a shift in paradigm from numbers to people and from the womb to women themselves. Through history this paper traces the genesis of official thinking, highlighting conceptual problems and shortcomings that have emerged. It reviews women's health status, their reproductive rights as well as the services that have been offered. There is very little use of statistical data but UNICEF, World Bank and Government of Pakistan have been used as sources. It conceptualizes women's health status in the cultural context and identifies education, economic participation, legal and political status as major factors reinforcing patriarchy and contributing to their poor health status. The paper concludes with identification of contemporary challenges and recommendations for addressing them.

Key words: reproductive rights, fertility control, family planning, population planning, population policy, contraceptive prevalence, health services, health status.