The current election in the United States is one of the most critical elections for the future of women’s rights, sexual and reproductive rights, and the right to safe and legal abortion.
The toughening of laws that began with the Dobbs decision set a detrimental direction; and this election will decide the fate of women in the U.S. and worldwide. The previous administration’s restrictive decisions have affected millions of women and girls, some of them in complex humanitarian situations due to war, climate change, and pandemics.
As a health professional and advocate engaged with women and girls in crisis overseas, I have witnessed firsthand the damaging effects of the previous administration’s stringent anti-abortion policies on U.S. humanitarian funding. These restrictions have severely impacted the lives, health, and futures of countless women and girls. The repercussions are still evident, with ongoing confusion about permissible actions.
U.S. political and diplomatic influence, mainly through initiatives like the Geneva Consensus Declaration, has created significant barriers to implementing in certain African nations the Maputo Protocol, a crucial regional treaty that supports sexual and reproductive rights, including safe abortion access.
So, for me, this election could powerfully expand women’s rights and human rights. The U.S. could champion justice for victims, while holding offenders accountable—and stand against the commodification of women and their bodies in favor of affirming bodily autonomy worldwide.