Dear team,

As a steadfast ally, I wanted to be sure you heard this urgent news out of Honduras:

Last week, the Honduran National Congress voted to amend its national Constitution in order to prohibit abortion outright. This reform seeks to prevent any future attempts at allowing access to abortion services in a nation that already has one of the most restrictive laws on sexual and reproductive rights.

Honduras is only one of six countries in the Latin America and Caribbean region that criminalizes abortion in all circumstances, including in cases of rape or incest, when there is a risk to the life of the pregnant person, and when the pregnancy is incompatible with extra-uterine life. And since 2009, Honduras has also completely prohibited the use, sale, distribution and purchase of emergency contraception.

In ratifying this harmful law, Honduras is failing to comply with its international human rights obligations by obstructing access to safe and legal abortion. The total criminalization of this essential health service further increases the risk to the health and lives of millions of girls and women.

We urge the Honduran State to comply with its international obligations to protect, respect and fulfill reproductive rights as fundamental human rights. We stand in solidarity with the women of Honduras and will work with them to right this injustice.

Thank you for standing by our side.

Sincerely,

Nancy Northup
President & CEO