Journal of Research on Women and Gender Volume 4 – March - 2012 1 Women’s human rights: The global intersection of gender equality, sexual and reproductive justice, and healthcare Catherine Hawkins, Texas State University-San Marcos The need to make a concrete connection between human rights and women’s rights is ironic considering that one half of humanity is female. Gender inequality is the most pressing contemporary human rights issue, including disparities in education, employment, healthcare, power and decision-making, violence, and poverty that impact billions of women and girls from every part of the world throughout their lifetime (UN Statistical Division, 2010; UNWomen, 2011a). Despite a long and documented history of virtual “gendercide” against women and girls, this disparity has been treated as non-existent or ignored or, if acknowledged, regarded as unimportant or insignificant by the global community. Led by the United Nations (UN), there is a growing global human rights effort to redress deeply rooted gender inequality. This paper will focus on sexual and reproductive health, examining both the extent of the problem and exploring some real and potential solutions. Specific topics addressed include an overview of gender- based inequality, female reproductive justice and healthcare, a brief history of women's health rights, the UN human rights framework, current global human rights initiatives focused on women, and action taken by women human rights defenders. Overview of gender-based inequality While human rights violations can affect all groups, some groups, including women, are at greater risk. “Women's issues” are not the same as “gender issues,” although the terms are often used interchangeably. In its annual report, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) (2000) notes that gender inequality works to the disadvantage of both women and men through impeding the