As we prepare to mark World Contraception Day on 26 September and International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, UN experts are calling on states to uphold the bodily autonomy, dignity, and freedom of choice for women and girls. In a powerful statement, they emphasized that access to quality reproductive health services is not only a matter of health but a gateway to economic, social, and political empowerment.
The experts highlighted the global gender backlash threatening reproductive rights and reiterated the importance of providing modern contraception and safe abortion services. These services are crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on poverty reduction, health, and gender equality.
The call to action urges governments to ensure equitable access to reproductive healthcare and protect providers from intimidation and harm. They stressed that healthcare providers must operate without fear of persecution, and states must establish clear standards for conscientious objection while ensuring safe alternatives.
Read the full UN expert statement on bodily autonomy and reproductive rights here.
Stay tuned to ICFP for updates on World Contraception Day and the Road to Bogotá campaign launching this week!