Project profile — SheDecides Support for Advocacy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

In line with Canada’s 10-year Commitment to Global Health and Rights (2021-2030), which includes $700 million per year to scale up investments in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), this project will support SheDecides as a global advocacy platform to communicate, inform and expand rights based comprehensive SRHR priorities and approaches. By engaging and working with global leaders, including youth, this project aims to mobilize political and financial support to increase access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in developing countries, with a specific focus on supporting the bodily autonomy of women and girls.

The expected outcome of this project includes: (1) increased use of evidence-based advocacy approaches to counter opposition to SRHR; and (2) convened, strengthened and amplified coordinated political action to advance bodily autonomy through the collective voices of SheDecides movement members and allies. The ultimate outcome of this project is to advance SRHR and bodily autonomy for millions of women, girls and other marginalized groups worldwide.

Results achieved include: (1) organised 3 high-level, high profile global events on abortion and CSE, at Women Deliver and the Commission on the Status of Women; (2) published two Champion-led op-eds in mainstream media, including one calling for access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) that had the support of 13 Ministers from 10 countries; (3) convened 10 Governments and 40 leading voices in SRHR to sign the Safe Abortion Statement during the UN General Assembly and ahead of the US election; (4) launched the first ever Abortion Archives to help capture the collective memory of the movement, reaching new audiences, including governments who are not part of SheDecides and key stakeholders in the arts and media.