22 INTEGRATING REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INTO THE WORK OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION minorities, migrant women, sex workers); government officials; and employers. Several NHRIs noted that men and boys should also be targeted for awareness raising and education about human rights. Thailand: Information Guide on Reproductive Rights In 2007, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand issued a guide to reproductive rights, directed principally to government officials, NGOs and those providing legal and social services to women and girls. (“Reproductive Rights: The Key to Women’s Health”). The Guide clearly set out the nature and scope of reproductive rights and explained how these rights are protected under international and national law. It used human rights law to identify the following as key reproductive rights: l Right to life l Right to liberty and security of the person l Right to equality and freedom from all forms of discrimination l Right to privacy l Right to freedom of thought l Right to information and education l Right to choose whether or not to marry and to found and plan a family l Right to decide whether or not to have children l Right to health care and health protection l Right to freedom of assembly and political participation l Right to be free from torture and ill-treatment. New Zealand: Community Leaders’ Dialogue on Sexuality, Gender and Human Rights In 2008, the New Zealand Commission for Human Rights in collaboration with Family Planning International brought together community activists and leaders to discuss sexuality, gender and human rights. The dialogue session touched upon what are traditionally sensitive issues, and was inspired by the work of South Asian human rights advocates. Four main themes emerged in the course of the discussion and are documented in the dialogue’s report: human rights; gender and power; culture and identities; and advocacy relationships. In addition to its substantive discussion on sexuality, gender and rights, the dialogue and its report reflected upon the important place of dialogue as an opportunity for shared conscious reflection and collaborative learning. It was observed that while human rights issues are constantly present, they risk being overlooked and watered down without conscious reflection, and that reference to a human rights framework provides opportunities for progress. The report of the dialogue can be found at: http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/12-Jan-2009_16-26-13_FPI_HRC_ Voices_Booklet_14_Nov_08_Final.pdf.

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