Statement on U.S. District Court decision in Texas mifepristone case from Ipas President and CEO Anu Kumar

Today marks the sixth anniversary of the founding of SheDecides, a global initiative launched in 2017 to fight for a world where every woman, girl and young person can decide what to do with their body, life and future.

“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.”

There’s no shame in abortion. There’s no shame in talking about abortion. There’s no shame in fighting for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom. We aren’t alone in our convictions—our research shows that nine out of 10 people living in the United States disagree with abortion bans.

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.

The right to live free from violence and the right to bodily autonomy are both human rights central to Ipas’s mission.

A comprehensive report—Gender snapshot 2022—produced by UN Women and UN Statistics Division, presents the latest evidence on the progress of gender equality across the world, and the results are sobering.

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.

Amidst ever-increasing abortion restrictions in the United States, new research commissioned by Ipas shows nine in 10 Americans oppose total abortion bans.

How is climate change affecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Nepal? And what can be done to ensure they have leadership roles as climate change response plans are developed in local communities?

When people can safely get an abortion, it not only improves their own quality of life, but that of their families, communities and even countries.

The global ripple effect of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down the constitutional right to abortion in the United States is being felt in Kenya.

Faced with rising COVID cases and escalating armed conflicts between the military and ethnic armed organizations, many people in Myanmar have had to rely on ethnic health organizations rather than government-connected public facilities for their health care. Myanmar’s fractured health system has been overwhelmed, pushing aside other vital needs—like sexual and reproductive health services.