As a devastating armed conflict forced thousands of displaced people to gather in camps outside Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Ipas DRC team knew sexual and reproductive health services that included abortion were desperately needed. In the spirit of their tagline, “Makoki ya Mwasi,” a Lingala term that loosely translates as “the rights of women,” Ipas DRC refused to let a lack of funding deter them. They only had enough resources for 10 days of services, but worked around the clock to launch a mobile clinic and make every second count for the women and girls who needed them.
Around the world, recognition is growing that climate justice and reproductive justice are inextricably linked—and that effective solutions to the climate crisis require a focus on women’s rights and needs. Yet philanthropic support is lagging: Only 0.01% of global funding goes to projects that tackle both climate and women’s rights.
“For many people, seeking an abortion means facing isolation and judgement at every step toward getting the care they need. To dismantle abortion stigma, we must intervene not only at the individual level, but within the context of communities and societies.”
Research has long shown that women and girls who experience gender-based violence at the hands of their husbands or sexual partners often experience poor reproductive health and unintended pregnancy. This issue is heightened in humanitarian settings, where women and girls are at increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
With a third of Pakistan underwater due to record flooding from the 2022 monsoon season, the United Nations Population Fund estimates that around 1.6 million women of reproductive age, including nearly 130,000 pregnant women, need immediate sexual and reproductive health services in flood-affected areas.