Global Trends in Opposition to Women’s Reproductive Autonomy

10 September 2025
International Confederation of Midwives

Sexual and reproductive health and rights are increasingly under threat. The Trump Administration in the United States has restricted dialogue about and access to contraception and safe abortion causing a global ripple effect. A troubling trend is emerging: other governments and international organisations are following suit by limiting funding and avoiding the language of reproductive rights.

Defunding SRHR – Global Impact and Consequences
The Trump Administration has overseen the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), withdrawn 500 million USD in global health funding, and terminated all US contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency for sexual and reproductive health. The result is the destabilisation of global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) initiatives, undermining progress toward gender equality, jeopardising the 2030 Agenda for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Continued: https://internationalmidwives.org/global-trends-in-opposition-to-womens-reproductive-autonomy/

Time to rethink Uganda’s abortion laws! Ugandans must end silence around abortion

July 21, 2025
Polyne Nabwire

KAMPALA – Discussions about illegal abortions have been dominant on social media, within various social groups, in offices, and among civil society organisations (CSOs) focused on sexual and reproductive health. The conversations were sparked by a story entitled “Merchants of abortion” published by Daily Monitor on July 7, 2025, that gained significant traction online.

For advocates of reproductive health, this situation was a sobering reminder that these issues cannot be ignored. Many CSOs have since held press conferences to address these concerns and discuss how to prevent illegal abortions and the associated unwanted deaths.

However, we should reflect on why, in this day and age of empowerment, we still face such challenges and consider how we can improve the situation moving forward.

Continued: https://pmldaily.com/oped/2025/07/polyne-nabwire-time-to-rethink-ugandas-abortion-laws-ugandans-must-end-silence-around-abortion.html

21.07.2025

Polyne Nabwire

United Nations Population Fund

A woman dies every two minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies

New data show major setbacks for maternal health in many parts of the world, highlighting stark disparities in healthcare access

23 February 2023
World Health Organization

Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest estimates released in a report by United Nations agencies today. This report, Trends in maternal mortality, reveals alarming setbacks for women’s health over recent years, as maternal deaths either increased or stagnated in nearly all regions of the world.

“While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world who lack access to high quality, respectful health care,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). “These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services before, during and after childbirth, and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights.”

Continued: https://www.who.int/news/item/23-02-2023-a-woman-dies-every-two-minutes-due-to-pregnancy-or-childbirth--un-agencies