With Women Deliver 2019 just around the corner, here is some useful information for you when talking about SheDecides at the conference.

SheDecides is a global political movement driving change, fuelled by actions in communities, with young people at its heart.

The movement was sparked in January 2017 by US President Donald Trump’s executive order, which dramatically expanded what is known as the “global gag rule” to ban non-US NGOs that receive US health funding from providing any information, referrals or services on safe abortion care; this impacts over $8 billion and is a policy that can be tracked in lives needlessly lost.

So far, the SheDecides movement has mobilised more than 120,000 citizens and organisations in 183 countries, with 43 Champions, including Ministers from key countries around the world. SheDecides is fuelled by its Friends – individuals and organisations who sign the manifesto and pledge to take action to advance that vision of the fundamental right to bodily autonomy.

Working together, we advance the fundamental right of girls and women everywhere to enjoy their bodies, to make their own choices, to have access to comprehensive sexuality education and the full range of quality services that unite all parts of their sexual and reproductive life and health.

When SheDecides about her body, the world is better, stronger and safer. Respecting her rights improves her health, life and future – and those of her family, community and society.

We fight for a world where:

Every woman and girl can exercise her right to gender identity, sexual orientation and privacy, choosing partners, pleasure, marriage, children – and integrated services covering contraception, pregnancy, abortion, infertility, STIs, HIV, cancers and a life free from sexual harassment and violence.

Forced marriages, child marriages, female genital cutting & mutilation, and all forms of violence against women and girls are things of the past.

SheDecides empowers politicians, organisations, creatives and people – especially young people – across the world to work together in new ways to create a new normal. We ignite energy and foster connections.

25 years ago, in 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was held in Cairo.

The ICPD Programme of Action that was adopted heralded a policy approach based on the reproductive health and rights and choices of women and men. Though there has been progress, the work on the ICPD Programme of Action is by no means done.

Without fulfilling the ICPD Programme of Action, we will not achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. Achieving the SDGs means achieving ICPD.

On SheDecides Day 2019, 25 young leaders, all born in 1994, and from 25 different countries met in Nepal for the first time. They represent all continents and the vast array of issues covered by the SheDecides manifesto of today.

They will be key communicators, sharing with the world the impact that the ICPD agenda has had, shaping the possibilities of their lives, and sharing information about the work they are doing to create that world where SheDecides, and the hopes they have for the changes that need to happen over the next 25 years.

For the 25x25, SheDecides Day was just the beginning of an exciting year of action that will see them steer discussion of the global 25th anniversary of the ICPD, and will conclude at the Nairobi ICPD Summit, organised by Denmark, Kenya and UNFPA, in November 2019.