Refusal of care is quickly becoming a battleground issue for the abortion rights movement and was a main topic of discussion at the recent Abortion and Reproductive Justice Conference in South Africa. Reclaiming the concept of conscience in reproductive health is crucial to combating this dangerous and unethical practice.

Brazil recognizes health as a constitutional right, but the criminalization of abortion keeps this right out of reach for millions of women. A landmark case to decriminalize abortion in the first trimester, currently before Brazil’s highest court, is a crucial step towards change. IWHC president, Françoise Girard, is among the 52 international experts to testify at the Supreme Court of Brazil on August 3 and 6.

As an ardent defender of abortion rights in Peru, IWHC’s grantee partner Promsex is a frequent target of right-wing conservatives. Yet a recent court ruling against a Catholic news agency that deliberately spread misinformation about Promsex is a victory for Peru’s long-embattled sexual and reproductive health advocates.

Justice Kennedy’s decision to step down offers the Trump administration yet another opportunity to deploy the US courts to attack women’s health and rights. Beyond the scope of US jurisprudence, Kennedy’s replacement could have a profound impact on domestic conversations about international law and US foreign policy.

The Trump administration’s proposed Domestic Gag Rule would prohibit organizations that receive US federal funding through Title X from providing or referring women for abortion-related services. This policy, like the Global Gag Rule, threatens the health and rights of women and girls, especially those from marginalized communities.

The US State Department’s recently released Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017 were edited to reflect the Trump administration’s disregard for reproductive rights by eliminating comprehensive reporting on these issues. This sends the unmistakable signal that violations of reproductive rights do not matter.

IWHC’s findings on the effects of the policy, which are grounded in the experiences and expertise of our partners, differ dramatically from the conclusions reached by the US State Department in its 6-month review.

A newly proposed bill to decriminalize abortion has renewed the hopes of feminist activists in the country, and could be a sign of a broader shift in public opinion on abortion across Latin America.

Trump’s pick to head the US State Department has an abysmal record on women’s health and LGBTQ rights, and joins a long list of ultra-conservative ideologues who have been elevated to powerful positions under the current administration.

In the run-up to this year’s Commission on the Status of Women, IWHC looks at the unique challenges facing women and girls in rural areas, who are often unable to access quality sexual and reproductive health care services.