This month, Catalina Martínez Coral, Senior Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for the Center for Reproductive Rights, discusses the Center's role with Colombia's Truth Commission and how the country's decades-long conflict has impacted reproductive rights. In Asia, advocates address gaps in new laws surrounding assisted reproduction and surrogacy. And in the United States, abortion is now illegal in 12 states, as the U.S. joins just three other countries who have rolled back abortion rights since 1994.

Latin America and Caribbean

Q&A: Reproductive Violence and the Colombia Truth Commission

Since 2019, the Center has been working with Colombia's Truth Commission to support the documentation of reproductive violence during the country’s decades-long armed conflict. In July, the Truth Commission issued its final report that included a chapter on gender-based and reproductive violence. It includes the experience of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ individuals in the conflicts, incorporating information and expertise provided by the Center. The Center's Catalina Martínez Coral talks about the significance of the Commission’s final report and its impact on reproductive rights in armed conflict.

Asia

New Laws in India Regulate Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy

Following years of advocacy by the Center and its partners, two new laws regulating assisted reproduction and surrogacy in India took effect in January. The Surrogacy Act and the Assisted Reproductive Technology Act ("ART Act") include numerous provisions establishing criteria for legal surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology (ART), as well as identifying a comprehensive set of rights protecting children born through ART. While the new laws show improvements, advocates have identified significant gaps that necessitate further advocacy and policy change.

Global Trends

Global Trends: Abortion Rights

For decades, the overwhelming global trend has been towards liberalization of abortion laws and increased access to abortion services. The Center's new infographic shows that the United States has joined only three other countries that have regressed on abortion rights since 1994. These four countries have removed legal grounds for abortion care, going against global trends. Check out the infographic to learn more.

United States

Abortion is currently illegal in 12 U.S. states

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June, vast swaths of the U.S., especially in the South and Midwest, are now abortion deserts. You can use the Center's interactive map to learn about the abortion laws currently on the books in your state.