In support of the upcoming International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, the International Service for Human Rights, Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, MSI Reproductive Choices and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The focus of this year’s statement is to highlight the impact of de-prioritising and defunding public health systems and universal healthcare on SRHR and the need to uphold the right to safe and legal abortion. This initiative builds on our previous joint statements on abortion to the Council these past 5 years, including last year’s statement signed by over 425 organizations and individuals. We hope you will join us and sign on again this year! The statement is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Polish and Russian for your review.
We invite groups, organizations and individuals [Note: there is an option to keep your name anonymous] to sign on to the statement by October 4, 3.00 PM CEST by filling out the following sign-on form and following its instructions:
The HRC session runs from 13 September to 11 October, and the statement will be delivered during the general debate on the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, scheduled on Thursday, 5 October. A few requirements need to be fulfilled, including connecting the statement with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and observing the 1:30-minute time limit.