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Dear John,
In 1994, I attended the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and was shocked to find that the right to safe, legal abortion was still being debated. Really? I thought Roe v. Wade had settled that issue in the United States way back in 1973.
Fast forward to 2019, and the right to safe, legal abortion is still not settled in the U.S. or many other places around the world. This week, I’m flying to Kenya to attend the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25—a huge gathering of governments and international development leaders who will mark the 25th anniversary of ICPD with renewed commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
We’ve made great progress in 25 years, and yet we know we still have a long way to go—especially when it comes to abortion. But I urge you, don’t give up or give in.
Abortion is the tip of the spear into the heart of patriarchy, which is precisely why it draws so much opposition. A world in which abortion rights are fully realized calls for a fundamental change in the way men and women have interacted and behaved for thousands of years. And that change is not going to be quick or easy.
I invite you to read my recent blog, “Resist, persist and take the long view.” It’s the message I’ll be sharing in Nairobi.
I’m not done fighting yet—and I hope you’re not either.
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