News

Every year 25 million women undergo an unsafe abortion and between 22,500 and 44,000 women worldwide die from the complications. She Makes Her Safe Choice works to reduce these devastating numbers by providing women with a safe choice.

Last week’s announcement that Indonesia’s new penal code will include a number of very regressive articles, is extremely worrying and threatens the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all. The draft law includes the criminalisation of unmarried people living together, homosexuality, safe abortion and sharing information on contraception. Rutgers is gravely concerned by this drastic proposal, and stands in support of those opposing its ratification.

Indonesia's parliament raised the minimum age at which a girl can marry from 16 to 19, in a ruling which is expected to curb child marriage in the country.

The Right Here Right Now (RHRN) strategic partnership amplifies the voices of young people advocating for their sexual and reproductive rights – at home, in their regions, and internationally. This June, all partners and platforms came together in Naivasha, Kenya, to discuss how the meaningful inclusion of young people can continue and how the partnership can sustainably build on its outcomes and lessons learned. National Coordinators Rajendra Maharjan (Nepal), Teresa Alarcón Rodríguez (Bolivia), Solange Mbaye (Senegal), Saraban Tahura Zamen (Bangladesh) and Tendaishe Changamire (Zimbabwe) explain why the inclusion of youth is so vital.

The Yes I Do Alliance (YIDA) has again completed a year with good results. The number of child marriages has decreased, alternative ceremonies have been held (instead of female circumcision), trainings have been given and lobbying is progressing. The annual report gives insight into what was achieved last year.

Rutgers is proud to announce its partnership with SafeAccess Hub, a digital platform which shares practical guidance on safe abortion and post-abortion care. By spreading knowledge to front-line practitioners, this partnership will help to reach the ambitious goal of zero unsafe abortions through its She Makes Her Safe Choice programme.

Three times a year, UN member states gather at the Human Rights Council (HRC) to discuss the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. This is a key space for Rutgers’ work to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, especially in current times of growing conservative opposition forces in governments.

We are shocked by the devastating news of the murder of Bessy Ferrera (known as Bessy Watson), who was killed on July 8 in the streets of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

“All in all, it was amazing for me as a young person to be at a UN event like this. It’s the largest space of political lobbying in the world.” This April, the 52nd session of the UN Commission for Population and Development (CPD) took place in New York. Youth advocate, Jairo Rodrigues from Guyana attended, as part of our Right Here Right Now Strategic Partnership. He looks back at a thrilling and inspiring experience at the United Nations, and has a clear assignment for his home country.

This year marks 25 years after the signing of the ICPD Programme of Action. In the run-up to the anniversary celebrations in November, UNFPA is joining forces with the strategic partnership Right Here Right Now to advance SRHR for all. At a special reception in Naivasha, Kenya, all parties re-affirmed their commitments and young advocates from across the international partnership shared their recommendations and experiences.