In March, we saw a landmark ruling that affirmed the right to abortion care in Kenya. This month, the Center honors the fifth anniversary of Black Maternal Health Week in the United States, and issues a critical call-to-action to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people fleeing war in Ukraine. Keep reading to learn more.

Europe

Call to Action: Protecting SRHR of People Affected by the War in Ukraine

The Center has joined over ninety civil society organizations in a call to action urging the European Union, the United Nations, donor governments and other international decision makers to address grave concerns about the sexual and reproductive health care needs of people in Ukraine as well as those fleeing the country. Humanitarian response plans, financing and assistance should respect human rights and prioritize the sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Africa

VICTORY: High Court of Malindi Rules on Right to Abortion in Kenya

For years, health care providers and women and girls of reproductive age in Kenya trying to access abortion care have been routinely harassed and wrongfully arrested under the 1963 Penal Code, which criminalized all abortion care. But in a new ruling in a case brought by the Center and the Reproductive Health Network Kenya, the High Court of Kenya in Malindi affirmed that abortion care is a fundamental right under the Constitution of Kenya, and condemned the arbitrary arrests and prosecution of patients and health care providers.

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Asia

A New Law Decriminalizes Consensual Adolescent Sexual Activity in the Philippines

For years, the Center for Reproductive Rights has been working in the Philippines and other countries to ensure that adolescents have sexual autonomy as recognized by international human rights laws. And just last month, the President of the Philippines signed an amended law that decriminalizes consensual, non-exploitative sexual activity among adolescents in the country. With this new law, for the first time, the government recognizes adolescents as rights holders.

United States

Black Maternal Health Week '22: Centering Black Systems of Reproductive Health Care

The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality ratio in the developed world and is one of only 13 countries where maternal mortality is rising. That's why this month, the Center joined the Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA)—a national network of maternal health, human rights, and reproductive justice leaders—to amplify issues critical to Black birthing people during Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW). Through the Center's Maternal Health and Rights Initiative, which focuses on improving maternal health equity and outcomes in the U.S., the Center collaborates with BMMA and its partners on proactive and progressive maternal health policy.

"Today's victory is for all women, girls, and health care providers who have been treated as criminals for seeking and providing abortion care."

—Evelyne Opondo, Senior Regional Director for Africa at the Center for Reproductive Rights