The 1986 United Nations Declaration on the right to development categorically states that development is a human right. This proclamation has been strengthened and reaffirmed at the United Nations Conference on Population and development at Cairo in 1994. In keeping with these international commitments, all countries of the South Asia region have framed policies that affirm the commitment of their governments to the principle that the overriding objective of social and economic development is to enhance the well being of all human beings by respecting their rights and expanding their choices.

Ironically, however, Sri Lanka has not been able to transform these commitments and policy statements into programmes that yield rich dividends of improved quality of life of its people. The inclusion of sexual and reproductive health rights in development approaches is still at a level of conceptual recognition, and conspicuous by their absence are the cohesive alliances between organizations, pressure groups, and influential groups in building public opinion. Sexual and reproductive health services are not readily accessible to the disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, especially those living in remote and resource poor settings.

Strategic Direction: In this scenario, FPASL will work towards promoting the sexual and reproductive rights of men and women in the country by engaging communities and policy makers to focus on the achievement of their demographic reproductive health goals through processes that respect the rights of individuals.

Goal: Strong public, political and financial commitment to and support for sexual and reproductive health and rights at the national and sub-national level

Objectives :

• To increase government commitment and accountability for SRHR and to increase public support for raising the priority of SRHR on the national development agenda

Activities:Objective 1:To increase government commitment and accountability for SRHR and to increase public support for raising the priority of SRHR on the national development agenda.

• Conduct seminars, roundtables and/or workshops to mobilize a range of stakeholders including community groups, decision and policy makers community groups and media to demonstrate the linkages and importance of SRHR to the national development agenda
• To build partnerships with key governments departments to advocate for increased government commitment to SRHR.
• Produce position papers on SRHR and ICPD to affect policy change e.g. highlight links between SRHR and economic progress /good governance/ MDGs/ poverty eradication / education/ the peace process/etc;

Outcomes and Indicators: