Editing Reproductive rights (section)

===Minors===
{{Further|Parental consent}}
In many jurisdictions minors require parental consent or parental notification in order to access various reproductive services, such as contraception, abortion, gynecological consultations, testing for STIs etc. The requirement that minors have parental consent/notification for testing for [[HIV/AIDS]] is especially controversial as it can cause delayed diagnosis and treatment.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK217962/|title=HIV and Adolescents: Guidance for HIV Testing and Counselling and Care for Adolescents Living with HIV|series=WHO Guidelines Approved by the Guidelines Review Committee |publisher=[[World Health Organization]]|pmid=25032477|page=3|date=2013|isbn=978-92-4-150616-8 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/696753/doh-backs-bill-allowing-minor-to-get-hiv-aids-tests-without-parental-consent|title=DOH backs bill allowing minor to get HIV, AIDS tests without parental consent|first=Jocelyn R.|last=Uy|website=Newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=7 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2014/july/20140723_youth|title=Challenging parental consent laws to increase young people's access to vital HIV services – UNAIDS|website=Unaids.org}}</ref> Balancing minors' rights versus parental rights is considered an [[ethical]] problem in medicine and law, and there have been many court cases on this issue in the US.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Maradiegue|first1=Ann|title=Minor's Rights Versus Parental Rights: Review of Legal Issues in Adolescent Health Care|journal=Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health|volume=48|issue=3|year=2003|pages=170–177|doi=10.1016/S1526-9523(03)00070-9|pmid=12764301|url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/456472_6|url-access=subscription}}</ref> An important concept recognized since 1989 by the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child]] is that of the [[evolving capacities|
evolving capacities of a minor]], namely that minors should, in accordance with their maturity and level of understanding, be involved in decisions that affect them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ippfwhr.org/sites/default/files/srrightsyoungen.pdf|title=Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Young People: Autonomous decision making and confidential services|work=International Planned Parenthood Federation|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>

[[Youth]] are often denied equal access to reproductive health services because [[health workers]] view adolescent sexual activity as unacceptable,<ref name=Mugisha>{{cite book |last=Mugisha|first=Frederick |editor-first=Andy|editor-last=Furlong|title=Handbook of Youth and Young Adulthood |publisher=Routledge |year=2009 |pages=344–352 |chapter=Chapter 42: HIV and AIDS, STIs and sexual health among young people |isbn=978-0-415-44541-2}}</ref> or see sex education as the responsibility of parents.  Providers of reproductive health have little accountability to youth clients, a primary factor in denying youth access to reproductive health care.<ref name=Mugisha /> In many countries, regardless of legislation, minors are denied even the most basic reproductive care, if they are not accompanied by parents: in India, for instance, in 2017, a 17-year-old girl who was rejected by her family due to her pregnancy, was also rejected by hospitals and gave birth in the street.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/india-chandil-homeless-street-jharkand-medical-centre-a7918611.html|title=Homeless girl in India forced to give birth on street metres away from health centre: She was shivering and unable to lift and cuddle her infant|date=29 August 2017|first=Andrew|last=Lowry|work=The Independent|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref> In recent years the lack of reproductive rights for adolescents has been a concern of international organizations, such as [[UNFPA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unfpa.org/resources/adolescent-sexual-and-reproductive-health|title=Adolescent sexual and reproductive health – UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund|website=Unfpa.org}}</ref>

Mandatory involvement of parents in cases where the minor has sufficient maturity to understand their situation is considered by health organization as a violation of minor's rights and detrimental to their health. The [[World Health Organization]] has criticized parental consent/notification laws:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2017/discrimination-in-health-care/en/|title=Joint United Nations statement on ending discrimination in health care settings — Joint WHO/UN statement|work=World Health Organization|date=27 June 2017|access-date=1 October 2017}}</ref>
<blockquote>
Discrimination in health care settings takes many forms and is often manifested when an individual or group is denied access to health care services that are otherwise available to others. It can also occur through denial of services that are only needed by certain groups, such as women. Examples include specific individuals or groups being subjected to physical and verbal abuse or violence; involuntary treatment; breaches of confidentiality and/or denial of autonomous decision-making, such as the requirement of consent to treatment by parents, spouses or guardians; and lack of free and informed consent. ... Laws and policies must respect the principles of autonomy in health care decision-making; guarantee free and informed consent, privacy and confidentiality; prohibit mandatory HIV testing; prohibit screening procedures that are not of benefit to the individual or the public; and ban involuntary treatment and mandatory third-party authorization and notification requirements.
</blockquote>

According to UNICEF: "When dealing with sexual and reproductive health, the obligation to inform parents and obtain their consent becomes a significant barrier with consequences for adolescents' lives and for public health in general."<ref name="UnicefBAJA">{{cite web|last=Sedletzki|first=Vanessa|year=2016|title=Legal minimum ages and the realization of adolescents' rights|url=https://www.unicef.org/lac/1._DIG._Min_age_of_medical_consent_PDF_BAJA_.pdf|
website=Unicef|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013014033/https://www.unicef.org/lac/1._DIG._Min_age_of_medical_consent_PDF_BAJA_.pdf|archive-date=13 October 2017|access-date=12 October 2017}} [https://www.comprehensivesexualityeducation.org/wp-content/uploads/20160406_UNICEF_Edades_Minima_Eng1_.pdf Alt URL]</ref> One specific issue which is seen as a form of hypocrisy of legislators is that of having a higher age of medical consent for the purpose of reproductive and sexual health than the [[age of sexual consent]] – in such cases the law allows youth to engage in sexual activity, but does not allow them to consent to medical procedures that may arise from being sexually active; UNICEF states that "On sexual and reproductive health matters, the minimum age of medical consent should never be higher than the age of sexual consent."<ref name="UnicefBAJA"/>