SheDecides Rally: A Force for Reproductive Rights at UNGA
16th October 2024
Governments, political leaders, health experts, and UN officials gathered at SheDecides’ high-level abortion rights rally last week, to take part in a political journey reflecting on the struggle for reproductive freedom across time and across the world.
Here, on the sidelines of UNGA, world leaders and SRHR experts reaffirmed their commitment to safe and legal abortion as a fundamental human right for all people, everywhere. This timely event was held in the heart of New York ahead of the US election, where abortion rights are increasingly on the ballot.
The rally celebrated recent progress in abortion law reform, while also emphasising the urgent need for continued collective action. It provided a unique platform to introduce the new SheDecides initiative: Abortion Archives. Participants were treated to an exclusive sneak peek of POWER TO DECIDE, an exhibition which explores six decades of the global abortion rights movement through powerful photography and artefacts from 25 countries across five continents, covering the years 1970 to 2024 - an exhibition, created by the movement for the movement, that will be activated in different countries and around diverse political moments during 2025.
A GATHERING OF VOICES
The speakers from all corners of the globe offered unique insights and powerful remarks on progress on abortion rights. In opening the session, SheDecides Executive Director Karin Nisson underlined the ongoing need for collective solidarity: ”In times of push-back against gender equality and when our human rights are under threat - we come together as a powerful feminist movement, to stand up for the right to decide.”
While underlining that challenges persist in France, Ambassador for Human Rights Isabelle Rome underlined that nonetheless: “In 2024, France became the only country to explicitly enshrine the guaranteed freedom to have an abortion in its Constitution in all circumstances. Thanks to a remarkable collective effort, we are giving the highest level of protection ever to the rights of women and girls to control their own bodies."
In his speech, Jean-Bernard Parenteau, Director General for Health and Nutrition, Global Affairs Canada highlighted why action for safe abortion still demands collective action: “Seven million women are hospitalised due to unsafe abortions every year. That's just not acceptable. We must invest in reproductive health services and education to prevent these tragedies from happening." Speaking to the need to remove barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights given the rising global anti-gender movement against women’s rights, he reaffirmed: “That’s why Canada has been a proud supporter of the SheDecides movement since its inception.”
Reflecting on the situation in Colombia, Ambassador Tickner shared: "In 2022, the Constitutional Court of Colombia decriminalised consensual abortion until week twenty-four. This is a clear sign of progress in terms of bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive rights in our country. However, we must continue to work to ensure that all women, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location, have access to safe and legal abortion care.”
Key reflections were also shared on the global impact of the state of abortion in the United States: "The setbacks in the US have global implications due to the power of the USA and the funding restrictions it continues to impose on abortion worldwide. We must stand in solidarity with women and girls who are denied their fundamental right to choose." Dr Agnes Callamard, Secretary General, Amnesty International shared.
She also spoke of the vital role frontline workers play in ensuring people gain access to health services: “Activists, medical frontline workers, providers are often the last hope for those who are denied the right to an abortion. Yet, for the role they play, they are made to pay a high price, including threats, stigmatisation, unjust prosecution, arrests. Despite these challenges, all those fighting for reproductive freedom remain an unstoppable movement.”
Dr. Anu Kumar, President and CEO of IPAS, shared reflections on how progress can be seen nonetheless in both the United States as well as the rest of the world: “So take heart. The change we’re seeking involves people's rights and control of our bodies and this is deeply threatening to the social order. Abortion is the tip of the spear into the heart of patriarchy, which is precisely why it draws so much opposition.”
Speaking about the progress young people have contributed in the Latin American and Caribbean context, youth leader Johanna Gonzalez from Red de Jóvenes por el Derecho al Aborto en Latinoamérica y el Caribe, shared: “And in this context, I want to highlight what this bandana means. The green bandana is not just a symbol of resistance; it is a reminder that our fight for autonomy and the right to decide is a shared responsibility.”
She went on to point out: “Young people face many obstacles in accessing our sexual and reproductive rights, especially the right to abortion. The data is compelling: women and pregnant people between the ages of 18 and 30 are the most criminalised for abortion-related offences.”
All in all, the event fostered a diverse gathering of voices that celebrate historic success while calling for combined efforts to face the challenges that lay ahead.
STRONGER TOGETHER
The SheDecides rally was a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for reproductive rights. Amidst a year marked by an unprecedented number of national elections and shifts in government power, the event highlighted the importance of recent strides in protecting bodily autonomy and abortion rights. As leaders continue to advocate for safe and legal abortion, it is clear that collective action is essential to ensure that women worldwide have the power to decide about their bodies and futures.
By investing in reproductive health services, removing legal barriers, and challenging harmful social norms, we can create a world where all women and girls have the freedom to live their lives without fear.
See the photos here.