New National Poll Finds Americans Strongly Support Global Reproductive Health and Reproductive Freedom
As the United States marks 250 years since declaring liberty a foundational American value, a new national poll commissioned by PAI and conducted by YouGov finds that Americans overwhelmingly believe reproductive health care is a fundamental part of personal freedom, and that supporting the health and rights of women and girls around the world reflects American values and global leadership.
The findings come at a time when the Trump-Vance administration has dismantled decades of U.S. leadership on global health and human rights, shuttering foreign assistance programs and expanding policies that restrict access to contraception, maternal and child health services, and protections against gender-based violence. Against this backdrop, the survey demonstrates that Americans continue to support reproductive freedom and U.S. leadership on behalf of women and girls around the world.
“This survey makes one thing abundantly clear: reproductive freedom remains a core American value,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “Americans believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own reproductive health decisions, that the U.S. should stand with women and girls around the world, and that our global leadership should reflect those values. Americans reject the false choice between investing at home and supporting women and girls around the world. When women and girls are healthy and safe, communities are stronger, economies are more resilient, and the United States is a more effective global leader.”
The survey of registered voters found that:
- 78% agree that access to reproductive health care—including birth control, safe abortion services, and menstrual health information—is a basic part of personal freedom.
- 72% believe it is important for the United States to support the health, safety, and rights of women and girls worldwide because doing so reflects American values and leadership.
- 56% believe the administration should release funding that Congress has already appropriated for programs including clean water, food, maternal health, and reproductive health in low-income countries.
- U.S. global reproductive health assistance costs the average taxpayer less than $4 per year. 70% support maintaining or increasing U.S. investment.
- Americans are twice as likely to say cutting funding for global women’s health programs weakens America’s standing in the world (42%) than strengthens it (21%).
The poll was conducted by YouGov with more than 1,000 registered U.S. voters. The margin of error is ±4.1 percentage points. Survey respondents were weighted to be representative of registered U.S. voters.
About PAI: PAI is a global leader in advancing reproductive health, maternal and newborn health, human rights and gender equality. For 60 years, PAI has worked alongside grassroots organizations, advocates, and policymakers in the United States and across more than 35 countries to expand access to reproductive health care and ensure the rights, safety ambitions and freedom of women and youth are recognized and respected.
PAI has launched the Freedom Starts With Her campaign, which is mobilizing advocates, policymakers, and supporters to advance reproductive freedom in the United States and around the world. Freedom starts with the ability to decide if and when to become pregnant, to access lifesaving health care, and to live free from violence and coercion. These freedoms are the foundation of healthier families, stronger communities, and a safer, more prosperous world. To learn more go to freedomstartswithher.org
The Institute is part of PAI’s Freedom Starts With Her campaign that energizes U.S. grassroots support for global reproductive health and rights
This week, PAI proudly welcomed the inaugural cohort of the Freedom Starts With Her Youth Institute for Reproductive Rights, bringing together 17 college students and recent graduates from across the United States who are passionate about advancing reproductive freedom and building a more just future.
The seven-day Institute is more than a leadership program, it’s an investment in the next generation of advocates. Through workshops, policy discussions, and hands-on advocacy training, Fellows will explore the history of sexual and reproductive health and rights, the role of the United States in global health and development, and the policy priorities shaping access to health and human rights today. They’ll also gain practical skills in coalition building, strategic communications, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy while designing advocacy campaigns they can implement in their own communities.
“At a time when reproductive rights are under attack, it is more important than ever to invest in the next generation of advocates who will defend human rights,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President & CEO of PAI. “Right now, we are witnessing a rollback of freedoms that is unprecedented in scale and damage. The only way to right these wrongs is by working hand-in-hand with young people who want a different future and who want fundamental freedoms respected. For more than 60 years, PAI has partnered with advocates in over 30 countries to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. Today, PAI is excited to make that same investment in the next generation of advocates here in the United States.”
Throughout the Institute, Fellows will learn directly from PAI staff and partners from Congress, the United Nations, civil society organizations, communications firms, and youth leaders from around the world. By connecting with advocates from countries including Zambia and Uganda, participants will see firsthand how local leadership, evidence-based advocacy, and collective action have advanced reproductive rights across diverse political and cultural contexts.
“Young people have always been at the forefront of movements for change,” said Samantha Lemiux, Associate at PAI and lead of the Institute. “The Freedom Starts With Her Youth Institute is about sharing knowledge, practical skills, and accountability tools and approaches with youth so they can turn their passion into effective advocacy. We hope Fellows leave knowing not only that their voices matter, but that they have the tools to influence policy, build coalitions, and create lasting change.”
The Freedom Starts With Her Youth Institute was shaped by conversations with college students, veteran advocates, and longtime supporters of PAI across the United States. Although they came from different generations and experiences, they shared a common belief: the future of reproductive freedom depends on investing in the next generation of advocates.
College students told us they wanted more than inspiration. They wanted practical skills, meaningful mentorship, and real opportunities to turn their passion into action. They also wanted to learn from the advocacy strategies and experiences of PAI and our partners around the world, adapting those lessons and tool to advance reproductive rights and freedom in the United States and globally.
“As a young advocate myself, I know how difficult it can be to figure out where to begin,” said Ruby Siegal, a rising sophomore at Haverford College and a 2026 Youth Institute Fellow. “What makes this Institute so special is that it gives us practical tools, connects us with experienced advocates, and reminds us that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves.”
We look forward to sharing more from the Institute in the days ahead as our Fellows build relationships, strengthen their advocacy skills, and prepare to advance a future grounded in reproductive freedom, gender equality, human rights, and justice.
The inaugural 2026 Fellows of the Freedom Starts With Her Youth Institute for Reproductive Rights include
| Ruth Ajibade | Sophia Alicea |
| Kayla Blades | Sofia Comeaux |
| Harshita Dasot | Destiny Hardy |
| Tiffany Harmon | Jocelyn Jun |
| Amanda Kikonyogo | Linnea Leijon |
| Predentia Ogba |
Chloe Pennington
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| Lucille Pritchard | Zadaiah Roye |
| Ruby Siegal |
Natalia Velázquez López
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| Kekeli Woyome |
Institutions leading workshops, learning exchanges, and interactive discussions include: PAI, Center for Reproductive Health Education (Zambia), Copper Rose Zambia, Fenton Communications, FP2030, George Washington University, GenACT Africa Coalition (Tanzania) Global Health Advocacy Incubator, Samasha (Uganda), The Vavengers (United Kingdom), and UNFPA, the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health.
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Freedom Starts With Her is PAI’s national campaign to inspire, equip, and mobilize the next generation of advocates for global sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through leadership development, advocacy training, and community engagement, the campaign is building a stronger U.S. constituency for reproductive freedom, human rights, gender equality, and global health. www.freedomstartswithher.org
About PAI: For more than 60 years, PAI has championed sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States and alongside organizations in over 30 countries. www.pai.org
The Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act would nullify the Global Gag Rule, which has weaponized foreign assistance, forcing an extreme ideological agenda on the world.
PAI applauds the bicameral introduction of the Protecting Human Rights and Public Health in Foreign Assistance Act today by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Representatives Grace Meng (D-NY), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Diana DeGette (D-C), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Sara Jacobs (D-C), and Gregory Meeks (D-NY) in the House. This bill is a response to the radical and dangerous overreach by the Trump administration in expanding the already deadly Global Gag Rule to new issues, new entities, and new funding.
“We know that attacks on the most vulnerable do not make America safer or more prosperous and will instead cause devastating harm to women, girls, LGBTQ individuals, and other at-risk communities worldwide,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “Congress must take immediate action to ensure that the dramatically expanded Global Gag Rule is not implemented. U.S. foreign assistance dollars – funded by taxpayers – cannot be weaponized by the administration to impose this destructive agenda and dictate what global health entities can do with their own money.”
The expanded Global Gag Rule imposes restrictions on:
- All non-military foreign assistance;
- All partners (American and foreign NGOs, UN and multilateral partners, and foreign governments); and
- Comprehensive reproductive care and advocacy, as well as new prohibitions on gender and DEI policies and programs.
By prohibiting any U.S. foreign aid funding for bodies that promote, provide, or advocate for abortion, or that promote ‘gender ideology’ and ‘discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion’ — even if they do these things with non-U.S. funding — the administration is attempting to roll back global human rights.
PAI has been fighting against all forms of the Global Gag Rule since it was first imposed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. Every Democratic administration has since rescinded it, and every Republican administration has re-imposed it, playing politics with people’s lives. Restrictive U.S. foreign policies, such as the Global Gag Rule, impose enormous burdens on country- and community-led efforts to meet local needs. As one of the world’s largest donors of health and development assistance, encumbering U.S. funding with this deadly policy–and any other funding it touches–will severely and negatively impact millions of people around the world. Rather than promoting peace, stability, and global health, the Global Gag Rule makes aid less effective, wasting taxpayer dollars.
PAI urges Members of Congress to cosponsor and pass this critical legislation. We will also work alongside our 77 partners in 35 countries to document the policy’s impacts, capture affected communities’ stories, and amplify these on-the-ground voices and data showing the human cost of these restrictions. More information can be found at globalgagrule.org.
PAI calls the proposal a part of a continuing assault on contraceptive services, threatening the health and lives of women and families worldwide
Today, President Trump released his budget request for fiscal year 2027, proposing dramatic cuts to global health, and made note that the administration does not believe U.S. funding should support “unfettered access to birth control.” The proposal represents a dramatic abandonment of a U.S. financial commitment to international family planning and reproductive health funding (FP/RH) that has remained stable across administrations of presidents of both parties and through budget and political pressures for more than 16 consecutive fiscal years, including last year, when the overall international affairs budget absorbed a 16 percent cut.
The President’s Budget Request has become a statement of an administration’s spending priorities that Congress routinely ignores. But as a statement of policy, the administration is sending an unmistakable signal with this request: women’s health and reproductive rights are of zero importance to this administration.
“This budget proposal is both a betrayal of decades of American leadership and a direct threat to the women and families whose lives greatly benefit from U.S. support for family planning and maternal health,” said PAI’s Senior Fellow, U.S. Government Relations, Craig Lasher. “Gutting this funding does not reflect American values, nor does it serve American interests. Congress has a long history of rightly treating international family planning as a bipartisan priority, and we urge them to do so again.”
The budget proposes a massive cut — $4.3 billion dollars less towards global health programs than last year’s enacted budget — that will surely damage already struggling health systems. This is the latest in a series of actions by this administration that have dismantled U.S. investment in global reproductive health. The administration has moved to destroy an estimated $10 million in taxpayer-funded contraceptive supplies, blatantly wasting the American people’s hard-earned dollars; defunded UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency serving more than 150 countries; and both reinstated and dramatically expanded the Global Gag Rule. The newest expansion of the Global Gag Rule goes beyond abortion services and now targets what the administration terms “gender ideology” and “discriminatory equity ideology” activities, which will significantly worsen the policy’s already-documented harms: maternal deaths, clinic closures, disruptions of supply chains, and programming that helps the most vulnerable women and girls around the world survive and thrive.
The justification given for proposing massive cuts to global health programming is incoherent and includes examples of work the Trump administration will not support, which are the type of birth control education and services that are routinely available and used by American women.
While the Trump administration is slashing — if not zeroing out for the second year in a row — requested funding for lifesaving FP/RH programs, PAI and our fellow advocates are pushing the U.S. to increase funding to $2.11 billion — three-and-a-half times the FY 2026 congressionally-appropriated level of $607.5 million. This amount accounts for the U.S. “fair share” of the global cost of continuing care for 714 million women currently using modern contraception and to meet the current unmet demand for contraception of 78 million women in low- and middle-income countries.
The United States has been a leader in family planning and maternal health for decades, and as a result, millions of lives around the world have been changed for the better. PAI urges Congress to reject this proposal, reassert its constitutional “power of the purse,” and fully fund international FP/RH, reaffirming America’s commitment to the health, rights, and futures of women and families around the world.
Last week, President Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill into law. Overall, this bill represents a 16% cut over FY 2025 enacted levels, including significant cuts to humanitarian assistance, gender equality and women’s empowerment, and other key areas. But, as it has for the past six decades, Congress maintained bipartisan support for U.S. foreign assistance for family planning, appropriating $607.5 million for international family planning and reproductive health, including $32.5 million for UNFPA. The bill includes language requiring the administration to demonstrate to Congress how they plan to spend the funding intended for UNFPA, if it is not directed to the UN agency, as well as other language to increase transparency and accountability.
For more than six decades, this funding has reflected a shared recognition that access to voluntary family planning is central to advancing health, gender equality, economic stability, and human rights worldwide. These investments empower women, girls, and couples to make informed decisions about whether and when to have children, improving health outcomes, strengthening communities, and fostering long-term development.
“This bill is a tremendous bipartisan commitment to U.S. leadership in global development and humanitarian aid,” PAI’s President and CEO, Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, said. “At a time when U.S. foreign assistance is facing unprecedented disruption, Congress has reaffirmed its constitutional role in directing how taxpayer dollars are spent and underscored the importance of sustained investment in international family planning and reproductive health. It is essential that the administration fully implement these funds as appropriated, so that critical services reach women and girls who depend on them.”
At a moment of profound global instability, humanitarian need, and growing inequity, Congress’ decision to maintain funding for international family planning and reproductive health sends a critical signal of continued U.S. commitment. PAI urges the administration to fully and faithfully implement these appropriations and to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches the communities who depend on it, and who Congress intended it to support. Sustained U.S. leadership is essential to protecting hard-won gains, preventing needless suffering, and supporting the health, autonomy, and dignity of women, girls and their communities worldwide.
PAI today announced that it has been awarded a $2,800,000 grant by the Gates Foundation to support the “Accelerating Policy Action to Make Family Planning Possible” project. This award will ensure that family planning remains a global health priority, sustain advocacy momentum, and address systemic challenges that limit access to family planning services.
Under the grant, PAI will build on its 60 years of experience engaging in critical advocacy, investing in global partnerships, and funding changemakers to advance universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“PAI deeply appreciates the Gates Foundation’s commitment to family planning and support for the work of civil society partners as we focus on the systems that keep family planning accessible—domestic budgets, supply chains, and policies that ensure family planning is consistently available where women seek it,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “Women with an intention to use modern contraception need reliable access to quality methods and accurate information, without the misinformation or service gaps that too often interrupt their choices.”
The foundation’s long-standing commitment to helping women and girls in low- and middle-income countries make informed family planning decisions and access the contraception they need continues to guide the global reproductive health community. Over the past two decades, their investments have reduced maternal mortality, advanced gender equity, supported economic growth, and accelerated progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
With this support, PAI will leverage new and underused pathways to equip civil society organizations with the resources, data, coordination, and access needed to respond to funding shifts, elevate emerging opportunities, and influence policy at all levels—ultimately securing sustainable financing for contraceptive supplies.
“This partnership with the Gates Foundation leverages PAI’s global network of more than 1,000 civil society organizations and coalitions, and six decades of family planning advocacy and convening experience to broaden who is at the table,” said Mustafa Kudrati, PAI’s Senior Vice President of Strategy and Growth. “By engaging our existing networks and new sectors—finance, education, agriculture, nutrition, and beyond—we expand the tent and align ambitions. When more stakeholders see themselves in this work, our collective voice grows, and so does our ability to ensure that women who intend to use modern contraception can count on systems that truly work for them.”
About PAI:
For 60 years, PAI has championed policies that enable women and youth to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights and eliminate barriers to the life-saving supplies and services they need. We achieve change by strengthening civil society partners’ advocacy capacity and advancing policy, legal, and funding solutions that make sexual and reproductive health care accessible, sustainable, and undeniable.
PAI condemns President Trump’s alarming decision to impose new restrictions on U.S. foreign aid by dramatically expanding the Global Gag Rule —a policy that endangers the health and lives of people, especially women and girls, around the world. As one of his first acts in office, the President reinstated the Global Gag Rule and changed the policy to apply to all global health funding. The policy is already unpopular with most Americans, and the newly announced expansion will be even more disruptive and deadly, adding restrictions to new funding streams, new entities, and on new issues.
“The dramatically expanded Global Gag Rule undermines decades of progress on global health, gender equality, and human rights, and cuts millions of people off from essential health care,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President & CEO of global reproductive health non-profit, PAI. “This GGR restricts what countries and organizations can do with their own non-U.S. resources that support the health, safety and wellbeing of their own communities. The GGR is unpopular with a majority of Americans and the expanded scope furthers harm and injustice, placing the Trump Administration out of step with efforts to advance global health and stability.”
Under the dramatic expansion, all organizations accepting any form of U.S. non-military foreign aid, including U.S.-based partners, the United Nations, other multilateral entities, and even other national governments will be barred from promoting what the Administration describes as “gender ideology,” supporting “discriminatory equity ideology,” or engaging in activities it deems “unlawful diversity, equity, and inclusion”.
The United States has long been a leader in providing foreign aid, but this policy change is yet another way of dismantling that legacy and undermining global norms and human rights. Last fall, the administration rescinded nearly $8 billion in foreign aid which was destined for disease prevention, famine control, and disaster relief, including approximately $500 million for global family planning and reproductive health. To add insult to injury, the administration has threatened to burn nearly $10 million in already paid-for birth control destined for low-income countries. The enormous expansion of an already deadly policy will exacerbate existing inequalities and undo decades of global progress towards sustainable development.
PAI will continue to push Congress, funders, and courts to hold the Trump administration accountable. PAI will continually update our Global Gag Rule website to mobilize reproductive rights advocates around the world to document the consequences of the policy. We will also work alongside our 77 partners in 35 countries to document the policy’s impacts, capture affected communities’ stories, and amplify these on-the-ground voices and data showing the human cost of these restrictions. PAI will continue to deliver on its mission to keep the American people and the international community informed and updated.
PAI today announced that it has been awarded a $2 million grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in support of PAI’s Reproductive Health Advocacy Partnership (RHAP). Under the grant, PAI will build on eight years of partnership with civil society organizations in Malawi and Zambia to expand access to family planning and reproductive health services.
“We are so thankful to the Hewlett Foundation for their ongoing, trusted partnership and for recognizing that, in the face of political, social, and economic challenges, civil society is the backbone of progress and resilience,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “This year, PAI marks 60 years of advancing the health, rights, and potential of women and young people worldwide. The consequential support of the Hewlett Foundation strengthens the ability of PAI and our partners to amplify evidence for policy change, build grassroots movements, drive accountability, and ensure that our voices shape a future where every woman, girl, and young person has the power and the means to thrive.”
Hewlett’s support for Malawi and Zambia recognizes urgent action to tackle the unacceptably high rate of preventable maternal deaths and unintended pregnancies among Malawian and Zambian youth, where nearly 50% and 40% of all pregnancies respectively are among adolescents. Through RHAP, local partners build coordinated advocacy strategies; hold political leadership accountable; address barriers such as contraceptive stock-outs and misinformation; and increase domestic financing for reproductive health.
“The Hewlett Foundation is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with PAI, especially as they mark 60 years of advancing global health, human rights, and gender equality,” said Janet Holt, Program Officer in Gender Equity and Governance at the Hewlett Foundation. “We remain deeply committed to supporting sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice. Together with PAI and local organizations in Malawi and Zambia, we are elevating the leadership of civil society organizations that are driving urgent change. This renewed commitment reflects our shared belief that when local advocates—and the organizations that stand with them—have the resources, tools, and support they need, they can drive meaningful change that protects the lives and well-being of women and girls and helps build thriving families and communities where reproductive health and rights are fully realized.”
PAI gratefully acknowledges all funders and supporters of the Reproductive Health Advocacy Partnership, most notably, the Hewlett Foundation, which has supported this initiative since 2016. We also proudly recognize and thank our coalition partners for their collaboration and leadership in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in Malawi and Zambia: Banja La Mtsogolo, Centre for Reproductive Health and Education, Copper Rose, Marie Stopes Zambia, and Pakachere Institute of Health and Development Communication.
Click here to learn more about RHAP.
About PAI
For 60 years, PAI has championed policies that enable women and youth to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and rights and eliminate barriers to the life-saving supplies and services they need. We achieve change by strengthening civil society partners’ advocacy capacity and advancing policy, legal, and funding solutions that make sexual and reproductive health care accessible, sustainable and undeniable.
PAI Named as ‘Action for Women’s Health Awardee’ to Fight for Reproductive Health and Rights
PAI receives the largest grant amount possible from Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global open call funded by Pivotal to improve women’s health around the world
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 12, 2025) – PAI, a U.S.-based NGO with 60 years of leadership in global sexual and reproductive health and rights, today announced that it is a grant recipient of Action for Women’s Health. This $250 million global open call is managed by Lever for Change and funded by Pivotal. Founded by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal works to advance social progress and expand women’s power and influence in the U.S. and around the world.
Every day, almost 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and most of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, it is women and girls who experience the most severe reproductive health consequences from humanitarian crises, climate emergencies, and policy and health financing rollbacks. At such a pivotal moment for reproductive rights, this grant enables PAI to keep driving forward—to protect bodily autonomy, end preventable maternal deaths, close the gap for the 270 million women worldwide who cannot access lifesaving family planning and reproductive healthcare, and champion reproductive freedom across the globe.
“This generous grant from Action for Women’s Health comes at a sobering and urgent time for our movement,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President & CEO of PAI. “It is a bold affirmation that reproductive freedom matters for just, equitable, and safe societies. We are deeply grateful for this support of PAI and our mission—and for the clear recognition that women’s health is not up for negotiation. This grant enables PAI to protect hard-won gains in family planning and maternal health, mobilize bold policy and financing reforms, and accelerate action so that women have the power, resources, and freedoms to make decisions about their bodies and their futures. It also helps build momentum across our movement—bringing in new champions, fueling collective action, and catalyzing the investment needed to advance reproductive freedom everywhere.”
For decades, PAI has worked alongside partners in more than 35 countries to ensure reproductive health care is accessible where women and youth live, work, and learn. Putting power directly in women’s hands strengthens their education, economic opportunities, and ability to achieve their aspirations.
This grant announcement comes on the heels of PAI’s recently launched Freedom Starts with Her campaign: a global call to defend reproductive rights everywhere and equip advocates in the United States with the tools and resources they need to fight for women and girls around the world. Together with a network of more than 1,400 civil society partners worldwide, PAI is driving local and global action toward a future where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every person can exercise their reproductive freedom with dignity and choice.
More information is available at: https://leverforchange.org/open-calls/action-for-womens-health.
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About PAI: PAI is a global leader in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, working to ensure that women, youth, and at-risk communities can make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. For 60 years, PAI has partnered with grassroots organizations, advocates, and policymakers in the United States and across more than 35 countries to expand access to family planning, maternal health care, and reproductive health services. To learn more, visit www.pai.org.
For 60 years, PAI has been at the forefront of holding the U.S. government accountable to its commitments to global health and reproductive rights. We have worked tirelessly with champions in Congress, U.S. agencies, and advocates around the world to ensure that U.S. leadership translates into real access to family planning and reproductive health services. That advocacy has enabled hundreds of millions of women to obtain contraceptives — from pills and IUDs to injectables — that safeguard their health, rights, and futures.
To witness those gains now at risk of going up in literal flames, and threatened by policies grounded in misinformation rather than evidence, underscores why PAI is deeply engaged: our mandate has always been to demand that the U.S. government and global institutions prioritize, support, and advance reproductive health, not undermine it.
We are closely tracking the conflicting information we continue to receive from multiple sources regarding the U.S. government’s potential incineration of contraceptive supplies. We remain deeply disappointed by the lack of transparency from the U.S. government, which has consistently created confusion among civil society and the general public. We hear one thing from one source and another from a different source.
Regardless, the decision to incinerate contraceptives remains appalling. These are lifesaving supplies that women and families urgently need and want. The U.S., with its long history of leadership in global health, should uphold that legacy, not destroy it. The contradictory information coming out of the administration only reinforces the urgent need for honesty and accountability in how these decisions are made.
PAI’s ability to hold the Trump administration accountable and defend reproductive freedom depends on the support of those who share our commitment. We are grateful for your continued partnership in sustaining this advocacy, and PAI will provide ongoing updates on critical developments, ensuring our community remains well-informed and equipped to raise its voice alongside us.
PAI is pleased to announce the election of Mr. Gilbert Deans to its board of directors. The board’s combined expertise and support in strategic planning, fiduciary oversight, and governance strengthens PAI’s ability to achieve its mission, vision, and goals.
“We are thrilled to have Gilbert join PAI’s board of directors and welcome his exceptional expertise and commitment to health equity, gender equality, and human rights,” said Neeraja Bhavaraju, PAI board chair. “His leadership comes at a pivotal time for our sector, as we accelerate efforts toward our mission of sexual and reproductive rights for all people.”
Mr. Deans is an accomplished financial leader with extensive experience in senior financial management roles across various organizations. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at NAFSA, the largest association serving international educators worldwide, where he oversees a $16 million annual operating budget and maintains an investment portfolio of $10 to $12 million.
“I’ve always believed that sound financial leadership can be a catalyst for real change,” Deans said. “I’m honored to join PAI’s board and support an organization that’s doing vital, global work to advance reproductive rights and equity. I look forward to contributing in a way that reflects my commitment to justice, partnership, and sustainable impact.”
Previously, Mr. Deans held significant positions including vice president at Hamid Foundation Inc., chief operating officer and deputy chief financial and administrative officer at Color Of Change, and director of finance and operations at Let’s Get Ready.
As PAI advances its mission to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, the guidance and governance of its Board of Directors are essential. PAI’s board supports the organization’s strategic vision, fiduciary oversight, and leadership that anchor impact and help position PAI as a trusted advocate, partner, and catalyst for change.
“I am honored to work with Gilbert Deans as a member of PAI’s board of directors,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, PAI’s president and CEO. “As we build on six decades of impact and chart our next chapter, his leadership will further strengthen our foundation and support our continued growth. Gilbert’s non-profit financial leadership and dedication to equity will enrich our Board’s collective strengths and help advance PAI’s urgent mission.”
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About PAI
PAI is a leading civil society advocacy organization dedicated to advancing universal access to SRHR across the globe. For nearly 60 years, PAI has served as a credible source of information, a strong ally to in-country partners, and an unrelenting advocate for improved and expanded SRHR at the national, regional, and global levels. PAI works to advance its mission by propelling evidence-informed advocacy strategies in the United States and globally and supporting in-country CSO partners across nearly 40 low- and middle-income countries to advocate for increased access to sexual and reproductive health services and expand SRHR for all.
To learn more, visit www.pai.org and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X,
PAI warmly welcomes the appointment of Diene Keita as Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Ms. Keita is a seasoned and respected leader in international development, and a trusted partner in advancing gender equality, public health, and human rights around the world.
Throughout her career, Ms. Keita has remained steadfast in her commitment to empowering women and youth, addressing gender-based violence, and championing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Her deep expertise, diplomatic acumen, and relationships with governments and civil society position her to lead UNFPA at this pivotal time.
“Diene Keita understands that reproductive rights are the bedrock of resilient, just and prosperous societies,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “Her institutional knowledge and policy leadership, and vision and courage are what the civil society partners need to advance rights and choices amid rising global threats.”
PAI looks forward to continuing its close partnership with UNFPA under Ms. Keita’s leadership to ensure that every person—no matter who they are or where they live—has access to the sexual and reproductive health information, services and rights they need to realize their full potential.