The Human Right to Family Planning (HR2FP) Initiative
Uplift International’s Human Right to Family Planning (HR2FP) Initiative advocates for access to family planning as a human right
Millions of women—214 million in developing countries—do not want to be pregnant but are not using modern contraceptives. This unmet need for contraception leads to unintended pregnancies and increased abortions.
More than 56 million abortions—nearly half of which are unsafe—occur around the world each year. Access to safe abortion can prevent millions of deaths and disabilities globally.
At Uplift International, we are focused on providing access to family planning services—including contraception and abortion—to women and all people who have the ability to become pregnant. While progress has been made in many parts of the world, there is much more that must be done to protect the health and rights of women, girls and those who can become pregnant—including in the United States, where states have passed laws to limit access to safe, legal abortion.
When women, girls and anyone who can become pregnant cannot access reproductive health services that only they need – it is discrimination
Globally, women do not have the freedom or opportunity to choose if and when to be pregnant. These challenges are greatest for those living in poverty or socially marginalized—no matter if they live in wealthy or low and middle-income countries.
Inadequate access to scientifically accurate information, quality reproductive health services and reliable contraceptive supplies can adversely affect a woman’s health, well-being and her ability to be a productive member of society. LGBTQIA+ individuals who have the capacity to become pregnant are also affected. We approach this ‘inadequate access’ as discrimination against women, girls and all individuals who can become pregnant. It is not just a health issue. It is a matter of human rights.
Uplift International’s team of experts improve the health and rights of women, girls and anyone who can become pregnant
- We conduct critical research in support of the right to access safe, affordable contraceptives and abortion for every individual, no matter where they live. We focus our work on the most vulnerable populations, including American Indian and Alaskan Native women and adolescents.
- We educate professionals, students and the public about the human right to family planning, including what it means and why it matters for women, girls and any person who has the ability to become pregnant. Our team speaks at professional conferences, convenes interdisciplinary meetings and keeps our community up-to date by sharing news, not only in the U.S. but globally.
- We bring together health and legal professionals to discuss, network and find solutions to critical problems so all individuals who can become pregnant have safe, affordable access to comprehensive family planning.
- We work with other organizations to fill gaps in expertise so programs become more effective in supporting the health and rights of anyone who can become pregnant.
- We develop innovative program approaches to family planning, including using technological or assessment tools, to improve information and service access to those who are challenged in accessing family planning.
The HR2FP Initiative Story
In 2015, the first U.S. conference on the Human Right to Family Planning (HR2FP) took place at the University of Washington. HR2FP explored the relationship between the right to health and family planning and its application to improving universal access– globally and locally. The event brought together academicians, practitioners, and students in public/global health, medicine and law, NGOs, donor institutions, international organizations, pharmaceutical and biotech companies and others from the Global North and South.
The conference provided an opportunity for professionals from different disciplines and professional practice backgrounds to exchange ideas and lessons-learned; discuss future, collaborative research; and begin to develop advocacy efforts that must take place globally—including in the U.S.—for women’s rights to be respected, protected and fulfilled.
Uplift International formalized the HR2FP Initiative, which has evolved naturally from the collaboration that began at the 2015 HR2FP conference. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our planned conference in September, 2020 was postponed.
The ‘Human Right to Family Planning (HR2FP)’ Community of Practice is an interdisciplinary community of global and public health practitioners, lawyers, clinicians, NGOs, international organizations, donors and others who collectively discuss issues regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights, including abortion. Discussions will focus primarily on girls and women accessing scientifically-based information and the full range of reproductive health services, as part of the broader reproductive justice dialogue. Our community is a forum where professionals & practitioners share their ideas, events, publications, and much more.
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