The world is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) by 2023. Instead we are witnessing a global pushback on women's rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality. The global pushback, driven by a well-coordinated transnational anti-gender movement is placing the hard-fought gains on gender equality and women’s rights, including reproductive rights, under threat. This global pushback is hampering negotiations in intergovernmental spaces. Additionally, declining investments, regressive laws, rising conservatism, harmful technology, and climate change, are factors further compounding the gender equality and reproductive health and rights crisis. According to recent data from 68 countries reporting on SDG indicator 5.6.1, 44 per cent of partnered women worldwide still cannot make their own choices about their reproductive health, use of contraception, and ability to say no to sex. Violations and limitations of women and girls’ bodily autonomy ranges from a lack of choice which can lead to unintended pregnancies, to laws that restrict women and girls’ ability to exercise their reproductive rights, and abortion being criminalized or not accessible despite being legal. These constraints also threaten access to comprehensive sexuality education, and hamper efforts to end gender based violence including increasing forms like technology-facilitated gender based violence, and harmful practices. Sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the rights to be free from violence and harmful practices are human rights and they are not negotiable. They ought to be upheld for women and girls in all their diversity everywhere - and should never be rolled back anywhere. Bodily autonomy, “the right to govern over one's own body” is the foundation of gender equality and societies flourish when women and girls can exercise their bodily autonomy. Therefore, We, the signatories of this Call to Action are: Reaffirming the ICPD Programme of Action, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international agreements that give credence to the right to bodily autonomy, Reiterating the Beijing Declaration, which recognized that “the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment”, Recalling the Nairobi Statement on ICPD25, which called for the protection of the right to bodily integrity and autonomy, Championing the momentum of the Generation Equality Forum, building on the achievements of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, through global multi-stakeholder partnerships to reach gender equality by 2030, and reiterating our commitments to the blueprints of the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR, reflected in the Global Acceleration Plan for Gender Equality as well as the Young Feminist Manifesto, Recognizing the complexity of the challenges before us with gender inequality being perpetuated by multiple intersecting forms of discrimination, deeply rooted social and gender norms, gender unequal structures as well as misconceptions about the rights of women and girls, Acknowledging that gender inequality, perpetuated by gender unequal structures, norms and attitudes, remains one of the most pervasive impediments to bodily autonomy, Expressing deep concern about the global pushback and backtracking of the hard fought gains and the shrinking civic space for the women's movements to operate, especially since the presence of an autonomous feminist movement is a critical factor to drive policy change, Reminding that exercising bodily autonomy means access to free and informed choice, unhindered by demographic, economic, social, political, environmental or security barriers, as articulated in the State of the World Population Report 2023 “8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: The Case for Rights and Choices”, Celebrating the examples of progress witnessed globally, offering a glimpse of hope, in terms of progressive legislation on reproductive rights, and the significant contributions made by civil society, including women-led organizations, the girls and women´s feminist movement, and networks fighting for bodily autonomy from local to global levels. We call on all stakeholders to: ● Leverage the momentum of the ICPD30 Review to reaffirm, recommit and expand the range of stakeholders globally in support of all women and girls´ bodily autonomy, ● Harness and accelerate collective actions and partnerships towards the implementation of the blueprint of the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and SRHR, as well as synergies across all Action Coalitions, ● Expand efforts to ensure all women and girls have the power of choice and decision-making to realize bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights, and live free of genderbased violence and harmful practices — as essentials for achieving the SDGs and a sustainable future, ● Innovate and identify approaches, particularly to support, finance and engage women-led organizations, the feminist movement, including young feminists, to engage in collective action towards a stronger movement for bodily autonomy, leveraging the potential of the ICPD mandate, ● Increase international financing for the accelerated implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, to complement and catalyze domestic financing, in particular of sexual and reproductive health programmes, and other supportive measures and interventions that promote gender equality and girls’ and women’s empowerment, ● Invest in and strengthen evidence informed and rights based policies and programmes in support of all women and girls’ bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights.   Cover illustration by Daniela Yankova for The Greats

IPPF is a proud participant of Women Deliver 2023. IPPF will be involved in a series of panel discussions, virtual sessions and events concerning accountability, bodily autonomy, global abortion rights, gender equality, comprehensive sexuality education and reproductive justice. See below a schedule of our in-person and virtual activities. For more information and to register for the conference, click here.    Sunday 16th July Pre-conference: Catalyzing global action to end female genital mutilation or cutting Co-organized by Orchid Project, ARROW, The Global Platform to End FGM/C, End FGM European Network, Sahiyo, Equality Now, Amref Health Africa, The Girl Generation, IPPF ARAB World Region, U.S. End FGM/C Network, and End FGM Canada Network Time: 8:30-17:30 Location: Simba Ballroom, Four Points Sheraton    Tuesday 18th July Virtual session: Reforming legal frameworks for sex work to strengthen access to SRHR and the fight against GBV against sex workers Co-organized by Médecins du Monde, IPPF, ESWA, Nikat Charitable Association and NSWP Time: 10:45-12:00 Location: Virtual   Wednesday 19th July Side event: Beyond Marriage & Motherhood: The forgotten girl brides of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Co-hosted by the Australian government, IPPF, MSI, Burnet, UNICEF & UNFPA Time: 7:00-8:30 Location: Kigali Conference Centre, Theatre Side event: Igniting intergenerational power: Advancing Health and Gender Equality for Women of All Ages Co-organized by HelpAge Int, WHO, Equality Now & IPPFAR Time: 15.45-17:00 Location: Solidarity Space within the Kigali Conference Centre   Thursday 20th July Concurrent session: Breaking the Binary: Strengthening sexual and gender minority inclusion in SRH Co-organized by IPPF, USAID, Agency for All, Breakthrough Action & HDI Rwanda Time: 9:30-11:00 Location: Room MH3.2, Kigali Conference Center Virtual session: Reframing the MISP: SRH for all in crisis situations Co-organized by IPPF & YouAct (The European Youth Network on Sexual and Reproductive Rights) Time:12:30-13:45 Location: Virtual Virtual session: Silence on Infertility: Catalyzing rights-based pathways for fertility care Co-organized by IPPF & ShareNet Time: 12:30-13:45 Location: Virtual   For more information and to register for Women Deliver 2023, click here. 

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The Director General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Dr Alvaro Bermejo, is in Australia this week for high level meetings with Australian Government Ministers and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He is joined by Ms Tomoka Fukuda, Regional Director of IPPF’s East and Southeast Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR) and Ms Phoebe Ryan, IPPF’s Chief of the Australia and New Zealand Office. In Australia, Dr Bermejo has been privileged to meet with Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy. Together, they discussed how Australia can play a leadership role in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights through Australia’s international development cooperation.

This morning, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Director-General, Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, paid a courtesy visit to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Honorable Manasseh Sogavare, in Honiara, Solomon Islands Dr Bermejo and Solomon Islands Family Planning Association (SIPPA) President, Charles Meke, presented on the work of IPPF and SIPPA on the ground. Dr Bermejo reiterated that both SIPPA and IPPF are here to ensure more people have access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and look forward to working closely with and supporting the Solomon Islands Government in this endeavour.  SIPPA President, Charles Meke, said:

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, IPPF has supported partners in Ukraine and surrounding countries to provide access to essential sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services for those affected. Dr. Galyna Maistruk, Executive Director of Women Health and Family Planning Ukraine said: "Today marks one year since the brutal Russian invasion of my homeland. For us in Ukraine, the 24 February is a benchmark of consciousness and striving at any cost to be helpful and effective at their front. We are fully conscious that grieving for losses, despite tremendous, will not benefit us. And we stand together and remain a people not defined by the war but by our strength, resilience and values. Under shelling, air raid sirens, without electricity we remain committed to supporting the healthcare system through provision of essential equipment, medicine and training for doctors. Thanks to our reliable partners in IPPF and its member associations the work carries on supporting women and girls who need to access vital reproductive health care, abortion, and support after sexual violence until there is a free Ukraine." Banner image credit: Marko Subotin/Shutterstock