We will not allow the rollback of our rights by Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director at IPPF ACRO   Last week, deputies from Mexico’s right-wing political party Acción Nacional (PAN) approved an amendment to the penal code to limit access to abortion from 12 to 6 weeks. This is a grave violation of the principle of non-regression of human rights for women and people who have abortions. The Supreme Court of Justice (SCJN) has already established that the right to decide and access legal abortion are key components of reproductive autonomy and the right to privacy.  Aguascalientes, a state in the Bajío region of Mexico, is known as a stronghold of anti-rights groups, and the PAN has governed there since 1998. The current governor, Teresa Jiménez, proposed this amendment to further restrict access to abortion and increase the criminalization of those who seek abortions.  Since 2021, the Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to criminalize abortion absolutely. It unanimously declared that restricting abortion violates the right of women and pregnant persons to decide about their own bodies. This marked the first time the Court issued a guideline to harmonize abortion legislation with its ruling.  In 2023, following an injunction filed by local feminist organizations, the Court ruled that the Congress of Aguascalientes must eliminate the articles criminalizing abortion in the state. Ignoring the secular nature of the constitution, Governor Jiménez responded by declaring that “in her government… they are pro-life.” She criticized the fact that Aguascalientes’ deputies had to comply with the Court’s ruling to avoid administrative sanctions.  A week ago, local legislators debated the governor’s initiative. With 19 votes in favor, they once again modified the penal code, reducing the time limit for abortion access from 12 to 6 weeks and narrowing the grounds on which abortion services could be requested.  In their arguments, legislators claimed that “the laws established… should find a fair and reasonable balance” between the right to decide and the right to life. Misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling, they set the 6-week limit, citing “the period in which it is possible to detect the heartbeat of the product.”  The legislators also referenced a 2012  ruling, which stated that “there are no absolute human or fundamental rights.” They used this to justify restricting abortion, even though the 2021 Supreme Court ruling affirmed that abortion is key to reproductive autonomy and the right to privacy, and these are absolute rights that should take precedence over earlier interpretations.  Let’s be clear: this reform, and the strategies of anti-rights groups, are a direct attack on the autonomy, rights, and freedom of individuals to decide about their own bodies and lives. These are attacks that should not be happening, especially in a country where Article 4 of the constitution guarantees the right of all people to decide when and how many children to have. Globally, these rights are supported by the Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Cairo Programme of Action, and the Beijing Platform for Action.  Contrary to legislators’ claims, the “pro-life” or rather, anti-rights narrative, is one that constrains, limits, coerces, and punishes. This reform is further evidence of that. The imposition of a double medical screening process increases the risk of medical complications, unsafe procedures, and criminalization. Fear of prosecution can deter medical personnel from providing appropriate care, further exacerbating the vulnerability of those seeking abortions.  At IPPF, we are proudly pro-abortion—proud to stand with the people, their choices, their dreams, and their futures. This is what it truly means to be pro-life: to support the right to health, the freedom to build the families we want, and to love who makes us feel whole.   So how can we prevent what happened in Aguascalientes from being repeated in other states and across the region? The deputies in Aguascalientes exploited a legal vacuum because the Supreme Court did not clearly establish a minimum standard for abortion legislation. Abortion should be removed from penal codes and recognized as key part of absolute rights to health, to privacy, guaranteed to all people regardless of their circumstances. Otherwise, anti-rights groups and their conservative allies will continue to find loopholes to restrict access to abortion.  No set of exceptions or time limits will be enough. We need to end the criminalization of abortion. It is time to move beyond exceptions and legal barriers, and to stop treating the lives and bodies of women and other identities who have abortions as matters to be governed by penal codes and laws.  It is our needs, our realities, that should shape legislation, not the other way around. With one in four women having had an abortion, it is clear how the law should progress: toward the total decriminalization of abortion. 

Haz click aquí para leer este artículo en español.   Venezuela: A Mirror of Latin American Reality by Eugenia López Uribe, IPPF ACRO Regional Director   The democratic breakdown in Venezuela, which obviously did not begin this year, reflects the political, economic, environmental and social crises in our region. As is public knowledge, on 28 July, the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared the current president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, elected by majority for his third presidential term. Since the news, the acts of violence and repression with human rights violations have escalated. What is happening today in Venezuela, with the lack of transparency in the electoral process, social protests, violent repression and severe state violations of human rights also affects other countries in the region, regardless of their right or left ideological positions.   Latin America has seen a resurgence of authoritarian leaders who have severely weakened efforts to promote democracy and human rights. Nicaragua, El Salvador, Argentina and, until recently, Brazil, are some examples. There are patterns and dynamics that, in the last decade, we have seen replicated and normalised, such as the influence of anti-democratic political models and social polarisation as a tool to justify extreme and authoritarian measures.  

Haz click aquí para leer el texto en español.   Closing inequality gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean is possible   By Eugenia López Uribe, IPPF ACRO Regional Director   Nowadays, technology allows us to disaggregate population data and gain a more precise understanding of the diversity of people worldwide. This data plays a fundamental role in shaping public policies, laws, and programs that genuinely address the needs and promote the well-being of the population. However, in certain communities, inequality acts as a barrier, hindering a detailed assessment of their composition and needs. Additionally, there are marginalized groups whose needs and gaps, though glaringly evident, remain deprioritized.  The data speaks for itself: in the 21st century, for instance, women are 30% less likely than men to be employed and more likely to experience poverty and age without adequate pensions. In the realm of sexual and reproductive health, approximately 18 million women in Latin America and the Caribbean have an unmet need for modern contraception. Furthermore, 1,500 hospitals specializing in maternal health and family planning are situated in coastal areas prone to natural hazards, necessitating a deeper exploration of the link between climate emergencies and healthcare access. In this challenging context, the agreements signed by our countries regarding Population and Development demand heightened attention and greater responsibility from UN member states.  On a global scale, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals serve as our roadmap “to end poverty, protect the planet, and enhance the lives and prospects of people everywhere.” Over the past decade, Latin America and the Caribbean have had one of the most progressive documents for monitoring the implementation of this Agenda: the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development. Despite this clear roadmap, progress in terms of rights and development remains insufficient, revealing a weak and disjointed commitment on the part of regional governments.  To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, urgent action is needed. Countries must prioritize access to sexual and reproductive health, respond effectively to climate emergencies, and eradicate poverty. Central to this effort is placing women—in all their diversity—and other vulnerable populations at the heart of policy decisions. In pursuit of this goal, an IPPF ACRO delegation actively participated in the 5th Meeting of the Regional Conference on Population and Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (CRPD), organized by ECLAC from June 30 to July 4.  IPPF ACRO’s strong delegation arrived in Cartagena, Colombia comprising Member Associations and Collaborating Partners from across the region. As part of the official delegations from ECLAC member countries, IPPF ACRO members passionately advocated for the implementation of priority issues related to women and vulnerable populations.  The recent conference happened during an exceptionally challenging period—a time when focused efforts and increased funding are urgently needed to address the triple global crisis and the widening inequalities. However, the results presented in the regional report on the implementation of the Consensus fail to provide convincing evidence of a genuine commitment to accelerating the population and development agenda.  Within our region, we grapple with social, fiscal, and economic challenges that hinder sustainable development. Poverty and inequality levels have worsened, public budgets remain strained due to the pandemic’s impact, and economic growth continues to fall short of its potential. Shockingly, nearly 18% of the population now lives on less than $3.1 a day—a poverty threshold that surpasses that of a decade ago. Moreover, sovereign debt has surged to over 70% of GDP. So, where is the commitment to bridging these gaps?  Beyond this troubling context, we cannot ignore the disproportionate impact on women—in all their diversity—and other vulnerable populations. Women, LGBTIQ+ individuals, sex workers, people living with HIV, youth, and displaced communities bear the brunt of slow progress in implementing the Montevideo Consensus. When it comes to addressing the real needs of our region, governments seem hesitant to acknowledge their responsibility in providing the necessary resources to fulfill the commitments made in Montevideo back in 2013. Additionally, they must recognize that we are currently facing a climate emergency—an issue that cannot be sidelined in the agreements they sign.  As we observe World Population Day, the stark reality confronts us: millions of people live in an unequal, unjust, and urgent world. Yet, if governments persistently choose not to allocate resources for meaningful change, what purpose do their commitments serve? 

Haz click aquí para leer este texto en español.     Women's health in the age of climate change  By Eugenia López Uribe, IPPF ACRO Regional Director      Can you imagine a world where all women are free to make decisions about their sexuality and well-being?  Gender-based violence, lack of investment in quality health services resulting in limited services, obstructive health workers, insufficient supplies and little or inaccurate information are just some of the barriers women face in accessing their right to sexual and reproductive health. As we commemorate International Day of Action for Women's Health, I would like to emphasise how women's health is further threatened by the climate crisis.   Let’s start by answering what is sexual and reproductive health? When we talk about sexual and reproductive health for women, we mean, among other things, that they can: Have safe and satisfying sex lives. Decide about their reproduction: decide whether they want to be mothers or not, as well as the number and spacing of their children. Decide their sexual and romantic partners. To live and explore their sexual orientation and gender identity with freedom and safety. Access affordable and quality sexuality-related health services.   For women's right to health to be guaranteed, it is vital that they have access to quality, accessible and affordable sexual and reproductive health services. These services should include contraception, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care, sexual violence care and counselling, abortion care, fertility care, cervical cancer prevention and treatment, accurate information, among others. For a variety of reasons, women and girls still face barriers to receiving these services in a comprehensive manner. This is even more complex in the context of the current climate emergency.       How does the climate crisis affect women's access to health? Gender inequalities, poverty, discrimination and the lack of policies that guarantee access to education and health services are factors that limit women's enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health. Today, the consequences of the climate crisis have become an additional obstacle. According to UN data, 80% of people displaced by climate change are women and girls. The gender-differentiated effect cannot go unnoticed.   Here are some examples:  The destruction of critical infrastructure, such as health clinics and transportation routes, caused by extreme weather events can prevent women and girls from reaching health services or make them unavailable to them. In humanitarian response work during emergency situations, sexual and reproductive health services are often underfunded. Because they are not considered priority services, women are forced to go through their pregnancies, childbirths, postpartum and menstrual cycles under the worst conditions.  In addition, research has found significant associations between air pollution and heat exposure and risk pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight and stillbirth.  Extreme weather events caused by climate change increase the lack of access to clean and safe water. As well as being vital to people's overall health, lack of water presents a profound challenge to menstrual management, pregnancy care, the administration of certain contraceptive methods and the provision of safe abortion.    The climate crisis has many other harmful impacts on women's lives. When women are displaced, they are at greater risk of violence, including sexual violence. Living in emergency camps or crossing migration routes exposes them to dangers such as human trafficking, early and forced marriages and unions, and exploitative labour.  A terrible example is the current crisis in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where massive flooding has forced more than 600,000 people to flee their homes and has affected more than 2.3 million Brazilians. In addition, as of May 25, 165 people have been killed, 130 are missing and 2.1 million people have been affected. Gestos, IPPF's Collaborating Partner in Brazil, notes with indignation and concern in this statement the cases of sexual violence against women - including minors - in shelters.         An urgent call to action   At this moment in history, we all understand that inequalities and marginalisation are key factors that increase vulnerability to the impacts of the climate crisis. Addressing gender inequality and other forms of marginalisation is therefore crucial in the context of the current climate emergency.  A key tool for doing so is to mandate governments to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which articulates with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and explicitly targets access to reproductive health services among important measures to improve resilience and empower people disproportionately affected by disasters. This declaration, also signed in 2015 by UN Member States, commits ‘to promote universal access to Sexual and Reproductive Health services with a view to fostering healthy societies.    Thus, on this International Day of Action for Women's Health, we call on governments to remind them it is urgent to invest in strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity, both to the slow impacts of the climate crisis and to its more immediate effects. We need to prioritize women, youth and girls in all their diversity, as they are the ones who bear the weight of the crisis.     At IPPF, we are committed to, and are making significant progress to:   Strengthen evidence linking Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the climate crisis; Support communities to adapt to the impacts of the crisis;    Reduce our own carbon footprint and the impacts of our internal policies.    However, our efforts as a Federation and as part of civil society alliances will not be enough. Governments and decision-makers must recognise and support access to sexual and reproductive health and rights as fundamental to climate change adaptation and resilience. It is imperative that they place human rights, environmental justice and gender equality at the centre of efforts to address the climate crisis.   We must address today the responsibility of countries to reduce their emissions and advocate for low- and middle-income countries to have the financial conditions necessary to respond and adapt to the climate crisis. Women and girls can wait no longer.        This text was written by Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director at IPPF ACRO. Eugenia is an experienced advocate for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights, promoting innovation in the delivery of health services from a human rights perspective. She has worked with rural and indigenous people, adolescents, youth, LGBTQI+ populations, sex workers and women with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Beyond Civil Unrest: Understanding the Crisis in Haiti and the Path Forward by Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director at IPPF ACRO     The recent episodes of violence on Haiti quickly made headlines worldwide through media outlets that exploit the image of a country in perpetual crisis, often neglecting the reasons behind it. This insufficient approach not only makes it challenging to understand the context but also to devise effective responses to it. In Haiti, we see the ravages of a colonial history deeply rooted in slavery, interventionism from the global North, natural disasters exacerbated by climate change, the democratic void of an illegitimate state, and an international framework that has historically refused to work together with local actors to find solutions. As organizations and individuals working for human rights, it is our responsibility to prioritize a more concrete response to the Haitian people and to articulate a strategy to mitigate the social and political effects in the rest of the region. In terms of migration, for instance, according to the United Nations, out of Haiti's 11.5 million inhabitants, at least 35,000 have fled their homes since the beginning of 2024 due to the escalating crisis, and over 362,000 have been displaced by violence. According to Human Rights Watch, more than 63,000 people from Haiti crossed the Darien Gap, one of the most dangerous points on the migratory route to North America, between January 2022 and November 2023, risking their lives to escape what is happening on the island. As a counterpoint, according to the International Organization for Migration, in March of this year, 13,000 people were forced to return amid the unfolding crisis. This figure is 46% higher than that of February. We cannot overlook the role of the arms industry, which thrives at the expense of the lives of thousands of people in vulnerable situations. Haiti is part of a list of territories struggling to survive in situations of armed conflict and violence around the world, such as Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, Congo, Syria, and Afghanistan, to name a few. In recent months, we have seen powerful and significant mobilizations that bring us closer to the reality of Africa and the Middle East. However, today we have a humanitarian situation in our region that also requires our attention and resources. The sexual and reproductive health of all individuals, but especially women and girls, in all their diversity, is under imminent threat. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti warns that if the situation continues like this, 3,000 pregnant women will not be able to access the medical care they need. This means that nearly 450 women could experience complications during childbirth that could endanger their lives if they do not receive proper care. Furthermore, the risk of being victims of sexual assault and abuse is growing even more in Haiti. The lack of access to gender-based violence services in internally displaced persons camps exacerbates the situation for victims and exposes them to a higher risk of experiencing further abuse. In the past, there have been many efforts to "support" Haiti. However, they have not significantly involved the country's population or the local groups and organizations that have been mitigating the effects of instability for decades. Those who have the experience and knowledge about the root causes of the issues facing Haiti are those who live them. It is urgent not only to involve them in the solutions but also to follow their leadership, invest in the strategies they deem priorities, and address their demands for transparency and accountability throughout the process. What is happening in Haiti today is, above all, the result of colonialism that has hindered the development and construction of an independent state. To de-escalate violence and restore damage in situations like Haiti's, something we can learn from its own history is the urgent need to listen to, empower, and finance local efforts and strategies to begin building a path towards peace and stability.   This text was written by Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director at IPPF ACRO. Eugenia is an experienced advocate for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights, promoting innovation in the delivery of health services from a human rights perspective. She has worked with rural and indigenous people, adolescents, youth, LGBTQI+ populations, sex workers and women with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean.