Inter-American Court Recognizes Care as Autonomous Human Right

In a landmark decision, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) has recognized care as an autonomous human right, establishing that people have the right to care, be cared for, and self-care. This recognition has been hailed as a major victory for feminist and human rights organizations, who have been advocating for the recognition of care as a matter of social justice for decades.

Key Takeaways:

• The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has recognized care as an autonomous human right, establishing that people have the right to care, be cared for, and self-care.
• Women perform 76.2% of all unpaid care work worldwide, spending 3.2 times more time on these life-sustaining tasks than men, exacerbating gender inequalities and limiting equal opportunities.
• The Court emphasized that the right to care cannot be fully exercised without an intersectional approach that addresses the structural causes of its unequal distribution.
• States must adopt public policies, legal, educational, and labor reforms to promote the equitable distribution of care, including recognition of the economic value of care, paid paternity leave, flexible working hours for caregivers, and community support networks.
• The Court recognized that self-care is intrinsically linked to sexual and reproductive health, and that States must guarantee access to information and services that allow people to make free and informed decisions about fundamental aspects of their lives.

Statistics:

• Women perform 76.2% of all unpaid care work worldwide, spending 3.2 times more time on these life-sustaining tasks than men.
• In the Americas, 70% of caregivers are women, and 27% are young women aged 15-24.

Sources:

• Center for Reproductive Rights, "IACHR Recognizes Care as an Autonomous Human Right"
• Ipas Latin America and the Caribbean, "Historic Chamber Ruling: Care is a Human Right"
• Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Advisory Opinion 31 (2025)