Around the world, there is a rising backlash against gender equality—particularly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)—with opposition groups attempting to roll back legal and policy protections at national, regional and global levels. The regression of SRHR has harmful implications for young women and girls.

Keep reading to learn more about the Center's ongoing efforts to safeguard adolescent SRHR.

Europe

European Parliament resolution calls for full realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The European Parliament passed a resolution affirming that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are fundamental human rights that must be upheld by European Union (EU) Member States.

The resolution is the first SRHR resolution passed by the Parliament in almost 20 years and calls for removal of all barriers in accessing abortion, modern contraception, quality maternal health care, assisted reproductive technologies and comprehensive sexuality education. It also includes recommendations for EU Member States to ensure that their national laws and policies guarantee SRHR free from discrimination, coercion and violence, and promote accessibility of SRHR health services, information, and education.

Africa

High Court of Malawi reaffirms protections for abortion.

In a critical decision, the Malawi High Court reaffirmed the statutory protections for legal abortion under narrow circumstances. The Court further clarified that the preservation of life also entails safeguarding both the physical and mental health of the pregnant person. Though Malawi must still make abortion legal and accessible without restrictions, this is an important step forward in securing reproductive rights in the country.

Global Human Rights

Center works to combat global regression on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

As part of our work to promote the full realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the Center for Reproductive Rights is working to prevent and halt this alarming trend of regression while continuing to advance SRHR norms and standards throughout the world.

The Center recently convened a group of global experts for a dialogue on SRHR regression, hosting a webinar titled "Global Regression on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Organizing a Global Force to Defend and Advance Reproductive Rights." The event—designed for advocates and stakeholders from civil society organizations, governments, foreign missions, and the donor community—focused on the manifestation and impact of global regression, effective responses to address it, and how to organize a global movement to defend and advance reproductive rights.

"It has become clear that within sexual and reproductive health and rights, abortion, assisted reproduction, adolescents' SRHR, and LGBTI rights are the focus of efforts to undermine and roll back rights protections. This makes it critical to respond to and thwart these threats..."

—Nancy Northup
Center President & CEO on the Center's commitment to protecting SRHR around the world