Team,

As the world's only global human rights organization dedicated to protecting and advancing reproductive rights, we face new challenges in our work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the last year, we've worked with partners in countries around the world gathering critical research on the pandemic's impact on the reproductive health and rights of millions—and the findings have been alarming.

Before I share the details with you, I want to take a moment to remind you that none of the work we do—both inside and outside the courtroom—is possible without supporters like you. Please make a gift before June 30 to support these critical efforts, and a group of Center donors will match it five to one, up to $125,000!

Here are just some of the findings from our work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic:

• In Pakistan, our fact-finding initiative with the Collective for Social Science Research found that the availability of reproductive health care declined with the onset of COVID-19. We made recommendations to the government, courts, and civil society to take steps to ensure availability to critical services as the pandemic persists.
  
  
• In Europe, we documented how COVID-19 has exacerbated existing medically unnecessary barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health care. While some countries were quick to address these barriers—including allowing telemedicine for medication abortion care—other countries dramatically restricted and, in some cases, halted access to care entirely.
  
  
• In the Philippines, severe COVID-19 lockdowns have aggravated existing barriers to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly among adolescents. A report from the Center and our Filipino partners highlights how a lack of access to care has led to preventable maternal deaths, an increase in unintended pregnancies (including among young people), and a decline in contraceptive services. The report, which was submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, aims to ensure access to services and resources are available for all Filipinos during the pandemic and beyond.

These research and fact-finding initiatives have played a vital role in our global advocacy work over the last year and will inform policy recommendations well into the future.

By making a gift right now, you'll have 6X the impact holding governments accountable for protecting reproductive rights as human rights both inside and outside the courtroom.

Thank you for all that you do,

Enid Muthoni Ndiga
Senior Vice President of Global Legal Program