The long-term goals of the International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program are to achieve:

  • improved protection and promotion of rights relating to reproductive and sexual health;
  • greater understanding of how laws and policies inhibit the protection and promotion of reproductive and sexual health, and how they can be formulated and applied to better protect reproductive and sexual health; and
  • improved collaboration among specialists in law, medicine, health service administration and public health, on development and application of laws and policies to protect and promote reproductive and sexual health.

We pursue these goals through activities in four components of the Program: 

Capacity Building:

Research and Publications:

Advisory and Advocacy Work:

Information Resources and Network Building:

Co-Directors of the Program:

Rebecca J. Cook, M.P.A., J.D., J.S.D., F.R.S.C.         
Professor, Faculty Chair in International Human Rights
Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, and Joint Centre for Bioethics

Bernard M. Dickens, O.C., Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C.
Professor Emeritus of Health Law and Policy
Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine and Joint Centre for Bioethics

Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Fellows:

Mercedes Cavallo, LL.M., S.J.D.
Email:   mercedes.cavallo {at} utoronto.ca.

Debora Diniz, Ph.D.
Professor at University of Brasilia and founder of the Anis Institute for Bioethics, Brazil

Jaime M. Gher, B.A., J.D., LL.M.
jaygher {at} gmail.com

Anika Gray, M.P.P., LL.M.
Technical Advisor, Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate All Violence Against Women and Girls

Godfrey Dalitso Kangaude, B.Phil, LL.B. (Hons), LL.M., LL.D.
Email: Kangaude2013 {at} lawnet.ucla.edu.

Marta Rodriguez de Assis Machado
Professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation Law School, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Clara Rita A. Padilla,  B.A., J.D.
padillaclara {at> yahoo.com; engenderights <at} gmail.com

Payal K. Shah, B.A., J.D.
payalkshah {at} outlook.com

Melissa Upreti, B.A., LL.B., LL.M.
melissa.upreti {at} outlook.com

Christina Zampas, B.A., J.D.
Email:  christina {at} zampas.org

Co-ordinator of the Program:

Linda Hutjens, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.  
Email:  reprohealth{dot] law@utoronto.ca  

Flavelle House in spring

Flavelle House in spring