Team,

Today, World Contraception Day, is a moment to remind ourselves that contraception is a human right. Each year, contraception prevents hundreds of thousands of pregnancy-related deaths. It's an essential tool that empowers individuals to make choices about their lives, including whether and when to have children.

But as anti-abortion extremists wage global attacks not just on abortion but on contraception, assisted reproduction, and gender equality writ large, it is clear they believe women and girls don't deserve the right to control their own lives and futures.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has chosen this year's World Contraception Day theme, "A choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose," to highlight the urgent need for universal access to contraception. Yet, millions of people around the world still face barriers that make it difficult to access birth control, and growing anti-rights movements are fighting to make it even more so.

Over the years, the Center for Reproductive Rights has fought fiercely to expand access to high-quality, affordable, and accessible contraception. And we have won momentous victories, from overturning FDA restrictions on emergency contraceptives like Plan B, to helping reverse a 13-year-long ban on emergency contraception in Honduras. But our work isn’t done.  

An estimated 257 million women worldwide lack access to modern contraceptives, increasing their risk of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and preventable maternal deaths. Complications from pregnancy and childbirth are among the leading causes of death for girls aged 15-19 globally.

We must continue our fight to protect the rights of individuals all over the world to control their bodies and their futures and achieve gender equality. 

Your support can make all the difference. Every dollar helps us fight back against extremist attacks and expand access to safe, reliable contraception worldwide.

Women deserve the right to control their lives, their bodies, and their futures—without exception. Together, we can make that a reality.

Onward,

Nancy Northup
President & CEO

P.S. If you or someone you love has ever used contraception, you understand the power of making decisions about your body and your future. Donate today to ensure everyone has that same right to bodily autonomy. Every dollar you give will be TRIPLED through September 30, up to $50,000.