Many of us are still struggling to understand the full ramifications of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. That’s partly because the end of Roe isn’t just about abortion access in the United States—it’s about diminishing women’s rights around the world and reducing abortion access everywhere. 

What happens in the U.S. often has ripple effects globally. Here in Africa, the movement for women’s rights is gaining ground. But now that the U.S. is telling the world that abortion access is not a human right, I fear many countries will begin asking: “Should we take away abortion rights? And while we’re at it, should we take away other hard-fought rights—like women’s right to an education?” 

My colleagues from around the world shared insights on how they’re bracing for the global impact of Roe’s end in this article from Devex. We all know that women’s futures depend on reproductive justice. And we need the United States to send a clear message to the world that human rights matter—and that includes women’s rights and the right to access abortion. 

This watershed moment for reproductive rights is a call to action—and we at Ipas are ready for the fight ahead. Please join our conversations on Instagram and Twitter and make your voice heard. 

In solidarity,

Jean-Claude

Jean-Claude Mulunda Director of Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo