[...]... discrimination Further, the absence of laws that ensure patient with regard to maternal deaths, con- LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES PAGE 13 cerns about the multiplicity of data and Their Children Act of 2004; have led to confusion about the true however, considering the broad and The duty to fulfil rights places an obligation on nature and scope of the problem persistent nature of human... and peace; and nullifying or amending decisions of its Standing Committee.61 The Standing Committee of the NPC is the permanent of ce of the NPC.62 It is composed of the chairperson, vice chairpersons, the secretary-general, and appointed deputies from the NPC.63 The chairperson, vice chairpersons, and the secretary-general form the Council of Chairmen, which handles the daily work of the Standing Committee.64... legal and policy provisions that together determine the reproductive rights and choices of women and girls in China A GENERAL HEALTH LAWS AND POLICIES The constitution of China guarantees the protection of the people’s health” through the development of medical and health services; the promotion of modern and traditional Chinese medicines; encouragement and support for the establishment of medical and. .. Committee.64 The Standing Committee has the authority to interpret and supervise the enforcement of the constitution and national laws; 65 annul local and State Council legislation that contravenes the constitution or national laws; supervise the State Council, the CMC, the SPC, and the SPP;66 and appoint or remove members of the judiciary and procuratorate.67 Between NPC sessions, the Standing Committee... include the absence of laws that protect the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, dwindling access PAGE 19 to condoms, the absence of prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs, and the neglect of other sexually transmissible and reproductive infections and diseases Absence of laws guaranteeing the rights of persons living with HIV/ AIDS China, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam have national policies. . .LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ the right to life, liberty, and security the right to health, reproductive health, and family planning the right to decide the number, spacing, and timing of children the right to consent to marriage and to equality in marriage the right to privacy the right to be free from discrimination on specified grounds the right... health and empowering women to address the social conditions that jeopardize their health and lives Reproductive rights are founded on principles of human dignity and well-being Broadly speaking, they include two key principles: that all persons have the right to reproductive health care and to make their own decisions about their reproductive lives More specifically, they encompass a broad range of internationally... pregnancies and related abortions; and strengthen formal and informal education on sexuality, HIV/AIDS, STIs, and family planning.” Philippines, Committee on the Rights of the Child, June 3, 2005, UN Doc CRC/C/15/Add.25924 LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES Reporting status Most of the countries have reported at least once on their compliance with the international human rights treaties they... jurisdiction.47 Although the State Council formally answers to the NPC and its Standing Committee, in practice it is subordinate to the CPC and tends to implement the principles and policies adopted by the party.48 The constitution mandates that “[n]o organization or individual may enjoy the privilege of being above the Constitution and the law.”49 However, in practice, party policies shape the work of the State... protects women s rights and was recently entrusted with writing the final draft of the Amendments to Law on the Protection of Women s Rights and Interests ( Women s Rights Law”).149 The ACWF has helped formulate policies and laws on women s health and popularized related programs and measures.150 Over the years, PAGE 34 the ACWF has launched several projects to promote public awareness of women s health . 228 WOMEN OF THE WORLD:PAGE 8 LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES PAGE 9 Foreword Imagine a world in which the laws and policies of every. Adolescent reproductive health 98 C. Population 99 LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING THEIR REPRODUCTIVE LIVES PAGE 5 WOMEN OF THE WORLD:PAGE 6 III. Legal Status of Women