Every day, over 700 women and girls die - one every two minutes, from preventable causes related to childbirth and pregnancy. Despite this stark reality, this week, a small minority of states tried to sabotage UN negotiations to push an anti-rights and anti-health agenda on the world. From April 7th to 11th 2025, the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) took place with  the theme of “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”. Governments from all over the world came together in a moment of global health crises to address persistent and continued threats that jeopardize the health and wellbeing of all women and girls worldwide.  This UN process is a critical space where governments, UN agencies, civil society and young people come together to discuss priorities and make shared commitments on sexual and reproductive health and rights. For over 30 years, governments have agreed on standards for access to health services for women and girls.  A very small minority of vested interests are determined to use this convening to attack the Sustainable Development Agenda. We refuse to allow the malicious undermining of hard won gains that impact the lives of millions of women and girls around the world.As recently as last year, governments from all regions of the world reached an agreement to reaffirm these shared goals and commitments. This week, in the face of efforts to sabotage the discussions and negotiations, a vast majority of countries have stepped up to hold the line on the right to health, especially of all women and girls. This disruptive behaviour from a very small minority of extremist anti-rights administrations, is not just a threat to the agenda being discussed today, but also for international cooperation on human rights and sustainable development at large. They are preventing the international community from moving forward and making progress for people’s health, rights and well-being.

IPPF welcomes the political declaration adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). As we are marking 30 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, UN Member States need to urgently accelerate the work to achieve their commitments to advancing the rights of all women and girls, especially in light of the current global pushback against fundamental human rights.   IPPF welcomes the adoption of the Political Declaration on the occasion of thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in which Governments reaffirm their commitment to accelerate action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. IPPF actively engaged in the process by providing technical inputs to Member States and raising awareness of the situations of women, girls and the most marginalized communities and bringing their real-life experiences into the conversation.     The geopolitical backdrop to this year’s negotiations was extremely divided, with key issues such sexual and reproductive health and rights, multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and even the most basic agreed terms around gender equality being challenged.    Following the extensive and challenging political negotiations, the consensus adoption of this political declaration underscores strong cross-regional support for the human rights of all women and girls, the Commission’s mandate, the priority theme and the multilateral system.   The true impact of this political declaration will be measured by its implementation at the national level. As a locally rooted yet globally connected Federation, IPPF and its Member Associations are uniquely positioned to drive the implementation of the political declaration across national, regional, and global spheres. By doing so, we can ensure meaningful change in the lives of women, adolescents, girls, and other marginalized communities where it matters most.  As we mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Programme of Action and find ourselves only 5 years away from the 2030 deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), no States are on track to achieve gender equality. Women, girls and marginalized communities continue to suffer disproportionally from lack of equality and have their fundamental human rights undermined every day, with grave consequences. In this current political moment, where governments are cutting funding and scale back support for basic lifesaving assistance for the most vulnerable, the renewed political commitment of governments with the adoption of the Political Declaration to accelerate the fulfilment of rights of all women and girls is an important step. It is now crucial to collectively hold governments accountable for their commitments.    IPPF particularly welcomes the inclusion of:  strong references to human rights of all women and girls, reflecting Member States’ unwavering commitment to strengthen their collective efforts toward the full, effective, and accelerated implementation of the Beijing Agenda, including ensuring the full enjoyment of women’s and girls’ human rights.  The reaffirmation of the need for gender-responsive budgeting and gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda, which is crucial for addressing structural inequalities.  The reference to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination in the text, since women, adolescents, girls, and marginalized groups who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, are more likely to be structurally excluded. It is therefore important that the text recognizes the challenges in achieving gender equality for these groups.  A strong paragraph on the right to health for women and girls throughout their life course, including a reference to Universal Health Coverage:  The commitment to ensure that victims of and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and sexual violence in conflict have prompt and universal access to quality social and health care services and access to justice.   The commitment to addressing the risks and challenges emerging from the use of technologies, with full respect for the human rights of all women and girls, both online and offline, and that   gender-perspective should be mainstreamed in policy decisions and frameworks that guide the development of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence  The strong recognition of the role of women and girls in the resolution of armed conflicts, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.   We are pleased that the important contributions of civil society are acknowledged, however, we regret that the Declaration does not explicitly reference Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), whose work is fundamental in advancing gender equality and human rights.    However, IPPF is disappointed that language on the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as a fundamental component for achieving gender equality was ultimately not included in the Political Declaration, which significantly weakens the text’s scope, as SRHR is fundamental to the lives of women, adolescents, and girls. Furthermore, despite overwhelming data and research demonstrating the benefits of investing in adolescent girls, this critical group remains underrepresented in the Political Declaration.     IPPF urges all governments to unite behind this crucial call to action. Three decades after the Beijing Conference and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action, the world faces new and complex challenges to achieving the most fundamental human rights for all, which is further exacerbated by persistent structural inequalities.  It is imperative that we act with ambition, courage, and determination to uphold the legacy of Beijing. Looking ahead, we call on the global community to embrace a bold and transformative agenda that secures the rights and well-being of all women, adolescents, and girls and the most marginalized communities—not only for today but for the generations to come.    For more information, please contact [email protected] - +44 7918 845944  About the International Planned Parenthood Federation   IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.   Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote.    Photo credits: IPPF/Hannah Maule-ffinch/Indonesia

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), in partnership with Soul City Institute, are engaging with global experts on the intersection of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. The topic is particularly relevant in the context of the SVRI Forum 2024, the world's premier research conference on violence against women and children, which is held this week in Cape Town. Despite the central role of health staff in providing care, their role and expertise in SRH and SGBV is often overlooked when developing SGBV interventions, research and advocacy strategies. In addition to working with clients who experience physical, emotional, and sexual GBV, health professionals are likely to encounter forms of violence directly relating to provision of SRH services such as reproductive coercion. Globally, IPPF affiliates are among the primary SRH service providers in the countries where they work. The organisations aim to strengthen integrated survivor-centred first-line support and referral – which are crucial within 72 hours after sexual assault in order to prevent HIV and unwanted pregnancy. The goal is to close the gaps between these emergency post-violence services and routine SRH services such as contraception, pregnancy tests, abortion and HIV and STIs prevention and treatment.This integrated approach is vital to closing service gaps and ensuring that survivors receive comprehensive and continuous care. As the world increasingly prioritises gender equality, the need for improved health services for survivors of SGBV is more urgent than ever as well as the broader efforts to advance feminism, gender justice, humanitarian work and health systems. The SVRI Forum 2024 offers a unique platform for sharing innovative solutions that address these pressing challenges. “We need to tackle the SGBV-SHR intersections as a matter of relevance and urgency if we mean to end violence against women and other at-risk individuals. The event has provided access to groundbreaking insights and initiatives that address some of the most pressing challenges today. We noted that we must tailor messages to address specific cultural norms within communities. Messages must reflect the community’s experiences, target their attitudes and motivate change. Efforts should include capacity building, community awareness, and engaging various social actors with the intention of shifting social norms to prevent and respond to SGBV,” says Phinah Kodisang, the CEO of Soul City Institute. “Our conference session featured speakers from a range of countries and contexts, bringing together perspectives from the Global South and North. Discussions showcased equitable collaborations and solutions developed by leading organisations from India, Indonesia, Morocco and South Africa. The stories from these regions add diversity and richness to the global conversation and programmes on SGBV.” “SGBV is a global epidemic with one in four women affected by violence across the lifespan. IPPF works in over 150 countries and SGBV is part of essential package of services. Member Associates are often the first point of contact for women experiencing violence,” highlighted Dr Seri Wendoh, IPPF Global Lead on Gender and Inclusion. The event, led by women in influential roles, underscores Soul City Institute’s commitment to amplifying feminist leadership in transforming advocacy, policy and programme development. By integrating SRH with SGBV services, Soul City Institute aims to deepen its impact on gender justice, health equity and humanitarian efforts worldwide. Soul City Institute calls on governments, civil society organisations, healthcare providers and international bodies to take bold steps in prioritising the integration of SRH and SGBV services. “When women access healthcare, it is often the first opportunity to identify sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), but the system typically only recognises physical violence or rape, overlooking other forms. While healthcare is seen as the last step in SGBV interventions, it is often the first disclosure point, leading to territorial issues between ministries.” says Dr. Kalpana Apte, Executive Director, Family Planning Association of India (FPAI). Collaboration is essential and we encourage all stakeholders to engage in meaningful partnerships that bridge gaps, build resilience and amplify the voices of those at the forefront of this pursuit. While responding to SGBV is important, prevention is the ultimate, but we need evidence-based methods to go beyond just raising awareness about SGBV, adds Dorah Kiconco Musinguzi, Senior Technical Advisor, What Works to Prevent Violence against Women. “Awareness alone is not effective, or it may be on its way to being effective, but the evidence doesn't support it yet. This highlights a critical need for reflection—we must improve our approach to prevention.” Soul City Institute and its global partners are driving a movement to create a world where integrated health services and gender justice go hand-in-hand. Their dedication to embedding feminist principles in every aspect of their work ensures that ending SGBV is not just about immediate care but also about systemic change that empowers survivors, advances equality and builds a safer, more just society for all. Detrimental impact of segregated SRH and SGBV programmes Missed expertise and practical insights: Health professionals possess valuable practical insights and hands-on experience that can inform more effective interventions. Ignoring their perspectives may lead to strategies that are less grounded in the realities of clinical care and survivor support, reducing the effectiveness of these interventions. Reduced quality of care: If health staff are not consulted or involved, the care provided to survivors may lack a nuanced understanding of SGBV dynamics, potentially leading to services that are ill-fitted to the needs of survivors. This could negatively impact the recovery process, physical and emotional wellbeing of those experiencing SGBV. Limited advocacy and awareness: Health workers have a unique position in raising awareness about SGBV, as they often witness firsthand its effects. Not involving them in strategies may limit the strength and reach of campaigns to end SGBV, missing the chance to mobilise the medical community in advocating for policy changes and preventive measures. Missed opportunity for comprehensive training: The absence of health staff in the development of SGBV interventions may result in a lack of targeted training for them. Fragmented approach: Effective SGBV response requires a multi-sectoral approach, including legal, psychosocial, and health components. By overlooking the health staff’s role, interventions risk becoming fragmented, reducing the comprehensive nature of support that survivors require, which can delay their recovery.

Geneva, 12 July 2024 – The 56th Session of the Human Rights Council concluded today with major advancements for women and girls’ human rights, including the first ever reference to sexual and reproductive health and rights in a negotiated document—which was adopted by consensus.     For the first time in UN history, a resolution refers to the full formulation of “sexual and reproductive rights. The resolution, “Human rights in the context of HIV and AIDS,” urges states to address the specific needs of adolescents and young persons, especially girls and young women, and persons with disabilities in the response to HIV, and “to develop (...) sexual and reproductive health services, as well as education programmes on sexual and reproductive health and rights.” It is also the first resolution on HIV adopted by consensus since 2019.   In contrast to previously agreed language on ‘sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights’, the inclusion of ‘sexual rights’ ensures that young people will learn they have the rights to be free from sexual violence, from female genital mutilation, from marital rape, and that they have freedom to build safe, healthy relationships and families with the person they choose.  “The language adopted today reflects one of the most highly significant advances  on sexual and reproductive rights over the past 30 years at the UN. At a time of increasing attacks on freedom, human rights and bodily autonomy, the Human Rights Council has demonstrated that it is still fit for purpose to protect people’s human rights to live free from sexual violence,” says Estelle Wagner, IPPF’s Senior International Advocacy Adviser in Geneva.  During the session, the HRC also adopted the resolution “Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women and Girls”, which urges states to repeal “all laws and policies that that criminalize or restrict the exercise of sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights," in addition to reaffirming the right to bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health, reproductive rights, access to safe abortion, and comprehensive sexuality education. The resolution also addresses menstrual poverty for the first time in a UN resolution.  New resolutions on Accelerating Progress to Prevent Adolescent Pregnancy, and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence were also adopted during this session, as well as an updated resolution on Menstrual Hygiene Management, Human Rights and Gender Equality, which took a stronger health and humanitarian lens than the previous iteration.  IPPF worked hand in hand with Member States and civil society partners to ensure progressive and inclusive language in these resolutions would have a meaningful impact on people’s everyday lives.   In solidarity with women, girls and marginalized communities around the world who still face rights violations and significant barriers to enjoy their sexual and reproductive rights, IPPF remains committed to advancing human rights at all levels – from the UN to the local level where our Member Associations tirelessly fight for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all individuals. We are united, we are strong, and we will not back down until all people can exercise their sexual and reproductive rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence.   For media enquiries, please contact [email protected]    About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. We are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries.  Building on a proud history of 70 years of achievement, we commit to lead a locally owned, globally connected civil society movement that provides and enables services and champions sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, especially the under-served.  We advocate for a world where people are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and bodies. We stand up and fight for sexual and reproductive rights, and against those who seek to deny people their human right to bodily autonomy and freedom. We deliver care that is rooted in rights, respect, and dignity - no matter what. 

It’s been two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, revoking the constitutional right to an abortion. With U.S. headlines dominated by the “abortion wars,” it’s easy to forget that on a global scale, the rollback of women’s health and rights has put the U.S. in a lonely category: it is one of only four nations to restrict abortion access in decades, alongside El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Poland. The vast majority of nations are on an opposite trajectory towards expanding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In fact, over the past 30 years, more than 60 countries have brought down legal barriers to abortion. But the global trend towards liberalizing abortion is happening at the same time as a sinister counterforce: an anti-rights movement that wants to erode bodily autonomy. The fall of Roe has emboldened and invigorated these regressive forces around the globe, throwing a dangerous wrench in progress for many countries where activists, advocacy groups, and healthcare organizations have been fighting for years to chip away at stigmas and laws that stand in the way of abortion access. 

Did the US Supreme Court decision embolden anti-abortion movements in the Caribbean to press for stricter abortion laws in their own countries? In 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned in the US, many sexual and reproductive health professionals, advocates, and citizens alike were certain that this decision was the beginning of the end for any hopes the Caribbean had at freeing ourselves of the colonial-era British laws that restricted or outright banned abortion in most of the region. Fortunately, there has not been any indication that the anti-abortion movement has been emboldened. I’m only aware of a few religious leaders making public statements in support of the US’s decision. It appears that since the overturn of Roe v Wade, the abortion movement in the region has been revitalized. However, we recognize that we cannot remain complacent, as there has been a rise in the anti-abortion rhetoric and policies. In some Latin American countries, for example, Peru approved the “fetal personhood” bill, and in Honduras lawmakers increased the number of votes needed to repeal its abortion ban.   Did Caribbean nations with more progressive abortion policies face increased pressure to adopt stricter laws due to the US shift? Interestingly, Caribbean countries with stricter abortion laws are being challenged. Advocates for Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE) has been, and still is leading a series of research in several Caribbean countries to make an evidence-based case for decriminalizing abortion in the region. In June, a historic constitutional challenge to the colonial-era abortion laws in Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica were filed in those jurisdictions. Two women and two health care providers in those countries have bravely stepped forward to ask the courts to consider the constitutionality of those laws and their impact on women and health care providers. The first hearing is scheduled in the court in Antigua on September 17, 2024.   Did US restrictions on abortion funding for international organizations impact access to safe abortion services in the Caribbean? Like many other developing countries that rely on the US for funding, whether it is directly or indirectly through international non-governmental organizations, the Global Gag Rule (GGR) has had a far-reaching negative impact on abortion, other sexual and reproductive health services, including maternal and child health. A 2019 study showed GGR is associated with a threefold increase in the odds of women getting an abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean, the highest in the regions reviewed.    Did the US abortion policy shift contribute to increased stigma and discrimination against women seeking abortions in the Caribbean?  Despite the high prevalence of abortion in the Caribbean region, as our recent research is revealing, abortion is highly stigmatized because it is viewed largely from a moral lens. However, based on the work we are doing in the region, we have not collected any data to determine if any of the stigma and discrimination against women seeking abortions in the Caribbean can be attributed to the US abortion shift.  However, it is likely that the US decision has played some role. Abortion is among the safest medical procedures and should be a decision between a woman and her doctor. If we are to be successful in having more progressive abortion laws, or outright decriminalization, women and girls must be supported to tell their stories about their experiences. They must know that they are not alone in their experience, and that they have a right to protect their health and their life – there is nothing shameful about that.

Stigmatising.  Ideologically driven.   Damaging.  These are just a few words that can describe this report.  The International Planned Parenthood Federation is a global feminist, sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation with decades of experience providing services to sex workers’ of all genders.  We denounce in the strongest terms the content of this report and the ideologically driven process that led to it.  The report ignores decades of international evidence and global recommendations by WHO, UNAIDS, Amnesty International - and more importantly sex workers themselves.   Sex workers' voices have deliberately been ignored in the drafting of this report, reproducing the patriarchal silencing and exclusion that sex workers face in their daily lives.  At times of increasing attacks on women’s and LGBTQI communities, this report is fuelling misconceptions and harmful stigmatisation. The report promotes policies consistently proven to violate sex workers’ human rights using human rights rhetoric and erase sex workers consent, agency and humanity  At a time when racialised and migrant communities are increasingly calling to end police brutality and impunity, this report only offers more criminalisation and policing - putting the lives of most marginalised sex workers at risk.  The International Planned Parenthood Federation support the full decriminalisation of sex work. and stands in full solidarity with sex workers, their organisations and their struggles for human rights.  There is no feminism without sex workers.  Sex work is work. 

Major progress has been made in the debate on sex workers’ rights through a recent paper, “Eliminating discrimination against sex workers and securing their human rights,” published by the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls. In advocating for the full decriminalization of sex work based on international standards for strengthening women’s bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health, this guidance document is an important step toward a human rights-based approach to sex work for all UN bodies to follow. Unlike the sensationalist and reductive claims made by many anti-rights groups, the Working Group’s paper is grounded in evidence-based research and informed by consultations conducted with diverse sex workers across geographical regions, including those living with HIV and those who have experienced violence, exploitation, and abuse first-hand under restrictive policy models. “The position paper is not denying the injustices that occur in sex work, but merely highlighting the criminalisation of any aspect of sex work, and other punitive laws, policies and practices, that actually create these environments of violence, risk and abuse of sex workers,” as remarked by Jules Kim, Global Coordinator of the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) during the launch of the position paper. Furthermore, the paper draws attention to recommendations by international bodies, including several UN Special Procedure mandate holders and UN agencies, calling for the removal of punitive provisions on sex work. Given the large body of evidence and the growing consensus among international human rights bodies regarding the situation of sex workers, the Working Group concludes that there is sufficient proof of the harms of any forms of criminalisation of sex work and calls for the full decriminalization of sex work as the most conducive model to ensure the human rights of sex workers. Under decriminalization, all forms of sex work-specific criminal and licensing laws intended to sanction sex workers, clients and people who operate with sex workers are removed. The Working Group found that “in jurisdictions which criminalize sex workers, violations of their rights are numerous.” This finding is supported by international best practice guidelines and a substantial body of evidence. Decriminalization is the legal framework favoured by most sex worker-led organisations worldwide, as well as leading authorities in health and human rights. In New Zealand, following the decriminalization of sex work in 2003, sex workers have reported improved working conditions, negotiation power, and increased confidence in asserting their legal and employment rights. Sex workers in New Zealand also report improved relationships with law enforcement and an increased likelihood of reporting incidents of violence to the police. In Australia, the New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health has found that the reforms that decriminalized adult sex work “improved human rights; removed police corruption; netted savings for the criminal justice system; and enhanced the surveillance, health promotion, and safety of the NSW sex industry.” Contrary to early concerns, the NSW sex industry has not increased in size or visibility. Most important, the Working Group emphasises that decriminalization does not impede states’ efforts to mitigate human trafficking, citing the 2020 report of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons. If anything, decriminalization assists efforts to combat trafficking and exploitation in the sex work sector. The UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery has recently called for the full decriminalization of sex work to prevent further human rights violations against sex workers. As the Working Group’s position paper was being drafted, NGO members of the Sex Workers Inclusive Feminist Alliance (see membership list below) and sex workers from the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) were respondents to the consultations. Sex workers from such organizations as the Kenya Sex Workers Alliance, the European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance, Plataforma Latinoamérica de Personas que Ejercen el Trabajo Sexual, the Guyana Vulnerable Populations Alliance and the Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers each briefed the working group on the challenges facing their constituents. Each one briefed the Working Group on the most pressing challenges facing sex workers in their regions, including the conflation of sex work and trafficking, an increasingly strong and coordinated anti-rights and anti-gender movement and rising calls for criminalization. These calls pose a serious threat to sex workers’ rights and fly in the face of the abundant evidence of increased discrimination and isolation of sex workers in countries where sex work is criminalized. The guidance paper exemplifies meaningful inclusion of sex workers’ voices in the drafting of policy recommendations. This inclusion will lead to changes that improve the conditions of people who do sex work, particularly those most at risk of violence, poverty and poor health. The working group joins several UN agencies that have long called for the decriminalization of sex work, including the UN Population Fund, the World Health Organization, the UN Development Program and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).   Originally published in PassBlue on May 31, 2024. SWIFA was formed as part of a long-term strategy of building alliances across the sex workers’ and feminist movements to advance the acceptance of sex workers’ rights within the women’s movement. Organisations in the alliance include: Amnesty International, CREA, FEMNET, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (GAATW), Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific), Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

This is a serious time. The results of the European elections mark a worrying turning point, with the rise of the far right across Europe and, above all, their sweeping victory in France. The results in France overwhelm us, with almost 38% of votes cast for far-right parties. We know that these parties undermine the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ people, gender equality and the rights of migrants and people far from the law. Their anti-choice, anti-feminist, racist and hateful political project endangers Le Planning Familial's actions towards all the people we support. These results come against a backdrop of increasing attacks on Le Planning Familial organization over the past few years, whether in the press, on social networks, through calls to cut our subsidies, or worse, directly against our local branches. When we attack Le Planning Familial organization, we jeopardize the reception of people who need to come to our clinics: those who come for an abortion, to access free contraception, those who are accompanied in their gender transition, women who are victims of domestic violence who come for support and a sympathetic ear, the young, the not-so-young, women in precarious situations... We are not fooled by these attacks, which are the work of a normalized extreme right and conservative anti-choice movements that are highly organized and ultra-funded! Our progressive actions are disturbing the extreme right, which is opposed to the evolution of society towards equal rights and access to healthcare for as many people as possible in France and Europe.  The European Parliament, the most progressive of the European Union's three institutions, has been a long-standing ally on gender equality issues. Planning familial was actively involved in the European elections, drawing up a manifesto with our recommendations for a feminist, supportive and inclusive Europe, meeting with various MEPs and analyzing the platforms of the main candidates. The new composition of the Parliament, with a more conservative majority, calls this dynamic into question. Nevertheless, we will continue to work with our new allied MEPs to advance sexual and reproductive rights in Europe. Despite these alarming findings, Le Planning Familial will not be silent, will proudly stand by its values and will continue its actions. We have 18 days left before the parliamentary elections to mobilize. It's important for many of us to take to the streets all over France this weekend, to show our support for our model of society and the values we defend. The challenges ahead are great, but Le Planning Familial will always be there to defend and advance human rights for all European citizens. Together, as feminists, in solidarity and in anger, we will resist! Thank you for your unfailing support.   Feminist solidarity,   Sarah Durocher President of Le Planning Familial   To support Le Planning familial click here