Statement on the State Department’s Ongoing Destruction of Reproductive Rights

PAI is deeply alarmed by the U.S. State Department’s continued efforts under the Trump administration to minimize or eliminate reporting on reproductive rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQI rights in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Since the 1970s, these reports have been relied upon by Congress, diplomats, journalists, civil society, and the private sector as objective records shaping U.S. foreign policy and aid. Yet the Trump administration has once again chosen to redefine and omit key issues, denying the lived realities of people facing discrimination, violence, and systemic injustice worldwide.

This abdication of rights by the Trump Administration is not new. In 2018, Trump officials directed State Department staff to scale back reporting on reproductive rights, violence against women, and gender-based discrimination. The Biden administration restored comprehensive reporting, but today the Trump administration is escalating its ideological reframing of human rights.

The 2024 reports strip entire categories once considered standard—gender-based violence, reproductive health and rights, maternal health, access to contraception, and protections for at-risk communities.

“For decades, the State Department’s human rights reports have been a vital record shaping U.S. policy, diplomacy, and aid,” said Rachel Clement, Senior Director of U.S. Government Affairs at PAI. “In the 2024 reports we reviewed, critical sections on reproductive rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQI rights are missing. Omitting these facts denies lived realities and weakens accountability for systemic violence and discrimination. These reports are not meant to serve political expediency—they are meant to serve the truth, and the people whose rights and lives depend on it.”

Previously, the reproductive rights section documented access to family planning, contraception, maternal health care, and services for survivors of sexual violence. Erasing this information obscures global violations and weakens accountability. Policymakers and civil society rely on these reports to press for reform and safeguard rights.

PAI stands with members of Congress advancing the Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act (S. 2671, H.R. 4888), which would restore and protect comprehensive reproductive rights in State Department reporting. We urge lawmakers to pass this legislation and reaffirm the United States’ full commitment to human rights.

U.S. human rights reporting must remain comprehensive, consistent, and factual if it is to guide sound policy and uphold global standards. Restoring full reporting is essential to preserving the integrity of U.S. human rights leadership. Anything less weakens accountability, obscures abuses, and undermines U.S. credibility on the world stage.

On July 18, Congress passed the Rescissions Act of 2025, which cuts funding for U.S. foreign assistance, specifically targeting support for family planning and reproductive health and rights. This decision by U.S. lawmakers will have enormous and devastating consequences for women, girls, and families around the world.

For six decades, Congress has maintained bipartisan support for U.S. foreign assistance for family planning. This investment has been vital to enabling women, girls, and couples to choose whether, how, and when to have children. U.S. funding has led to demonstrable improvements in the quality of contraceptive options available and lowered costs. The decision to claw back already appropriated funds is particularly damaging, considering the proposed cuts to future funding, the decimation of U.S. foreign aid infrastructure provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the firing of thousands of qualified development, diplomatic, and humanitarian experts in Washington, D.C., and around the world.

U.S. international family planning and reproductive health assistance was implemented in a variety of ways: providing birth control pills in active war zones, where pregnancy and childbirth pose significant risks; ensuring access to long-acting contraceptives for survivors of gender-based violence who cannot safely negotiate daily contraceptive use; and other programming to support a couple’s conscious decision to time the births of their children in a way that aligns with their social and economic realities. Each decision is as unique as the individual, underscoring that voluntary family planning provides not just health benefits, but also dignity, autonomy, and hope.

It is with deep disappointment and profound fear for the future of global reproductive health and rights that we watched this rescission package pass—even after members of Congress were warned by the Office of Management and Budget Director, Russell Vought, that it would eliminate $500 million in funding for international family planning assistance.

“This rescission is not just a budget decision—it is a Congressional decision that will directly lead to innumerable deaths globally,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “By changing course on decades of bipartisan U.S. leadership, Congress is abandoning women, girls, and families who rely on these services to survive and thrive. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority over spending the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill. Here at PAI, we will continue to fight for the restoration of these critical funds and stand with our global partners, who are now left to face impossible choices.”

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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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

PAI extends its deepest gratitude to Dr. Natalia Kanem for her visionary leadership as Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Over the past eight years, Dr. Kanem has been a bold and unwavering champion for sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and the dignity of all people, particularly those who are too often pushed to the margins of society.

Her tenure was marked by steadfast commitment to advancing rights-based policies and programs, even amid growing political resistance and global crises. From fragile and humanitarian settings to global convenings, Dr. Kanem elevated the voices of women and girls and helped catalyze international action to protect and fulfill their rights.

“Natalia Kanem has led with integrity, heart, and fearless resolve,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “She reminded the world that sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential, not optional. Her legacy is one of courage and meaningful partnership with civil society. We thank Dr. Kanem for her leadership and for standing up for girls and women everywhere. We will carry forward the momentum she has generated.”

As Dr. Kanem concludes her tenure, PAI remains committed to working with UNFPA and the global community to ensure that her legacy endures, and that the vision she advanced becomes reality for every person, in every community.

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About PAI

To learn more, visit www.pai.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Chairman Graham, Ranking Member Schatz, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on the importance of international family planning and reproductive health.

Support for international family planning and reproductive health has historically been a point of bipartisan agreement—anchored in shared values of human dignity, smart investment, and global stability. From the earliest days of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act in 1961 through to recent decades, lawmakers from both parties have understood that empowering women and couples to make voluntary and informed decisions about their reproductive lives leads to healthier societies and more stable communities. Republican and Democratic administrations alike have supported these programs—not only because they save lives, but because they reflect the best of American leadership and moral responsibility.

In fact, key policy and funding advances—including the establishment of USAID’s Office of Population, early U.S. leadership at UNFPA, and the forging of public-private partnerships to expand contraceptive access—were often driven by bipartisan coalitions committed to evidence-based policymaking and effective development. This legacy is worth upholding. When we invest in international family planning, we are not just protecting lives—we are preserving a tradition of principled, pragmatic leadership that has long defined the United States’ role on the world stage.

I want to emphasize that family planning and reproductive health are lifesaving activities that must been included in fiscal year 2026 (FY26) appropriations. Not only do these investments save lives, but they also align to the values and priorities of the majority of American people who desire that reproductive freedom be respected.[1] In addition, failing to invest in reproductive health and family planning is a poor use of U.S. taxpayer dollars. For every $1 spent on family planning, between $4 to $8 are gained in returns to health systems and communities.[2]^{, [3]}

Specifically, I write to recommend that in FY26 appropriations, you: 1) preserve statutory language and funding for bilateral and multilateral FP/RH; 2) permanently repeal the deadly Mexico City Policy, or Global Gag Rule, that infringes on the rights of individuals and organizations abroad, and; 3) reinstate funding for UNFPA and modify the Kemp-Kasten determination to accurately reflect the status of the agency’s operations and prevent reproductive coercion in all forms.

For sixty years—nearly as long as the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act has been guiding foreign aid[4]—PAI has been motivated by one powerful truth: when women and girls are able to engage in their communities, access quality education and safe economic opportunities, and choose if, when, and how many children to have they can transform whole societies. This belief is reaffirmed through our work with thousands of advocates around the world who work at the local and national level to address the needs in their communities and advance health and human rights in their own countries.

For decades, the United States has led the world in life-saving development and humanitarian aid, saving millions of lives and improving the conditions for countless individuals in low- and middle-income countries. Our foreign aid work is a key reason for the 40% reduction in maternal mortality between 2000-2023[5] and a 39% decrease in new HIV infections from 2010-2023[6]. Our work has also contributed to a stunning 59% decrease in the global mortality rate of children under the age of five.[7]

Without sustained investments, however, the number of women and children who die of preventable causes will increase. In fact, estimates show that proposed cuts to PEPFAR will make nearly three million children orphans,[8] which will have tremendous impacts on the health and stability of communities and nations, as well as those individual children. An estimated 287,000 women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth; that figure will worsen with cuts to U.S. family planning foreign assistance.

While reforms are always possible, the FY26 budget proposal and recent rescissions package do not represent thoughtful improvements, but rather a sweeping rollback of effective, life-affirming programs and a dangerous erosion of American leadership. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority to ensure that appropriated funds for international family planning and reproductive health are fully and swiftly obligated, preserving the impact and integrity of U.S. foreign assistance.

Access to comprehensive reproductive health care—including a full range of contraceptive options and accurate, evidence-based information—is foundational to improving maternal and child health, preventing unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, reducing HIV transmission, advancing gender equality, and fostering more stable and resilient communities. These needs are even more acute in the face of escalating humanitarian crises in places like Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, where uninterrupted access to sexual and reproductive health services, including care for survivors of gender-based violence, can be lifesaving. Decades of global health and development experience have shown that siloed efforts fail—and that a whole-of-government approach is essential to delivering results and ensuring efficient use of U.S. taxpayer dollars.

The abrupt dismantling of foreign assistance programs has put at risk decades of progress in human capital, goodwill towards the United States, and the rights of millions of women, girls LGBTQ+, and other marginalized communities. The decision by this government, as evidenced by Secretary Rubio’s testimony during a House Appropriations hearing on the FY26 budget that Congressionally appropriated funding with decades of bipartisan support for international family planning and reproductive health is no longer being implemented as Congress intended. In fact, he said: “there is no plan to spend that money. We are not going to be in that business globally. I mean we don’t, we’re not going to do it.”[9]

The U.S. contributed about 40% of funding from all governments in 2023,[10] funding that was distributed to over 30 low- and middle-income countries primarily through the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, and USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health. In 2023 alone, this meant that 17.1 million unintended pregnancies and 5.2 million unsafe abortions were averted, and approximately 34,000 women did not die of preventable maternal deaths.[11]

The stories I hear from current and former PAI partners who have lost funding from the U.S. government are as unique as the individuals who receive care and services as a result of U.S. government funding. For some, this has meant that they will need to shut down, leaving their communities without access to family planning and maternal health services. For others, it means that they can no longer provide health services in rural communities, or to women and girls affected by violence and harm, as they have to scale back and make cuts.

The President’s proposed budget eliminates support for family planning in its entirety and moves away from the prevention and response to HIV to simply responding. This is not only more costly—when you fail to prevent HIV you have more cases of HIV, and the spread of infections around the world and here at home it is more likely—but also denies millions of people the dignity and right to protect themselves.

We have overwhelming evidence that many women and girls are denied their fundamental rights to safety and autonomy—reflected in the alarming rise of gender-based violence and the growing prevalence of child marriage around the world. Too often, women and girls lack the power to decide if, when, or whom to marry, or to make informed choices about their own bodies. Investing in long-term HIV prevention not only lowers future health care costs—it also affirms the dignity and agency of those who are too often denied a say in their own well-being.

I recognize that Congress has many difficult decisions to make about this bill. Therefore, I strongly recommend that FY26 appropriations make a strong investment in international family planning and reproductive health programs, support the role of UNFPA, and permanently repeal harmful and politicized executive actions like the global gag rule. Specifically:

Strategic Recommendations for the US Department of State:

Fund international family planning and reproductive health programs at no less than $862 million, including $788 million for bilateral family planning and $74 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule. For over 40 years, the Global Gag Rule has negatively impacted the health and lives of communities worldwide, particularly women, girls, and at-risk individuals. The harmful policy forces foreign NGOs to choose between providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, information, referrals, and advocacy or remaining eligible to receive U.S. global health funds. A permanent repeal would ensure that foreign nongovernmental organizations are treated fairly and afforded the ability to engage in permissible advocacy and lobbying activities on abortion with non-U.S. funding.
Update Kemp-Kasten amendment to address all forms of reproductive coercion and delete the requirement for presidential determination, including but not limited to coercive abortion, involuntary sterilization, or forced pregnancy.

Thank you for considering these recommendations. Investments in international family planning and reproductive health improve the lives of people around the world and here at home, while simultaneously supporting economic development and global stability.

Sincerely,

Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins

President and CEO

PAI

[1] Pew Research Center. (2025). Public opinion on abortion. [Fact sheet]. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/

[2] Starbird, E., Norton, M., & Marcus, R. (2016). Investing in family planning: Key to achieving the sustainable development goals. Global Health: Science and Practice, 4(2), 191–210. https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00374.

[3] United Nations Population Fund (2022). Investing in three transformative results: Realizing powerful returns. https://www.unfpa.org/publications/investing-three-transformative-results-realizing-powerful-returns

[4] Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, Pub. L. No. 87-195, 75 Stat. 424 (1961).

[5] World Health Organization. (2025) Trends in maternal mortality estimates 2000 to 2023: estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division.

[6] World Health Organization. (2023). Epidemiological fact sheet: HIV statistics, globally and by WHO region, 2023 [Fact sheet]. https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/hq-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-library/j0294-who-hiv-epi-factsheet-v7.pdf

[7] World Health Organization. (2022). Child mortality under 5 years [Fact sheet]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-mortality-under-5-years

[8] Cluver, Lucie et al. (2025). Protecting Africa’s children from extreme risk: a runway of sustainability for PEPFAR programs.

The Lancet, 405(10490), 1700 – 1712. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00401-5

[9] Budget Hearing – Department of State and Related Programs: Hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, 119th Cong. (2025). https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/budget-hearing-department-state-and-related-programs

[10] Oum, S., Wexler, A., and Kates, J. (2025, May 15). 10 Things to Know about US Funding for Global Health. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/global-health-policy/issue-brief/10-things-to-know-about-u-s-funding-for-global-health

[11] Sully, E.A., Owolabi, O., and Rosenberg, J.D. (2025, January). Family Planning Impact of the Trump Foreign Assistance Freeze. Guttmacher Institute. https://www.guttmacher.org/2025/01/family-planning-impact-trump-foreign-assistance-freeze

*The text provided on this page and accompanying file have been slightly modified from the written testimony provided to the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

As world leaders convene in Seville, Spain, for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), PAI and our partners join global civil society in calling for transformative, inclusive, and accountable financing that centers people, equity, and rights. With over 60 years of leadership advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), PAI is engaging in the Civil Society and Feminist Forums, as well as official proceedings, to push for a financing agenda that removes systemic barriers and enables countries to sustainably fund their development priorities.

“We are in Seville to make it clear: sustainable development will not be achieved without bold investment in sexual and reproductive health and rights—and a financing architecture that no longer forces governments to trade off what is essential to the health and wellbeing of their people in order to meet the demands of the global financial system,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, PAI President and CEO. “We are standing with partners across the world to ensure that women, girls, and historically excluded communities are not afterthoughts in global financing—they are the starting point.”

On June 24, the United States chose to walk away from deliberations and the approval of the FfD4 outcome document, known as Compromiso de Sevilla (Sevilla Commitment), which will be formally adopted during FfD4. The U.S. cited concerns related to global financial governance, trade and taxation, UN authority, and provisions related to gender. Regardless of the rationale, the result is the same: the U.S. stepped away from a process designed to support those most harmed by current financing inequities—especially women and girls.

In contrast, more than 190 countries remained committed and approved the outcome document. At a moment when international cooperation is urgently needed, the U.S. chose disengagement over collaboration.

While the outcome document includes commitments to debt relief, domestic resource mobilization, gender equality, and climate financing—it leaves many root causes of inequality and exclusion unaddressed. This is a vital moment for national leaders, donors, and civil society to ensure that structural barriers and bold reforms remain front and center beyond Seville.

PAI is also participating in the Feminist Forum and the Civil Society Forum to help shape a shared vision for equitable, inclusive, and accountable financing.

PAI and its partners will continue to advocate for long-term, sustainable financing for SRHR. This includes access to family planning and contraception, maternal, newborn, and child health, adolescent-responsive services, and action to end violence against women and girls. These are among the most cost-effective and transformative investments governments and donors can make.

For example, every $1 invested in family planning yields up to $8 in savings. Investments to end violence against women and girls can return up to $10 for every $1 spent, while such violence costs some countries up to 3.7% of GDP. These interventions reduce poverty, improve health and education outcomes, and help build more resilient and equitable societies.

“If you are financing climate, education, or economic growth but failing to invest in SRHR, you’re limiting your impact,” said Mustafa Kudrati, Senior Vice President for Program Strategy and Growth at PAI. “SRHR is not a silo—it’s the foundation that allows every other investment to succeed.”

To advance this vision, PAI supports a reformed global financing framework that must:

Enable low- and middle-income countries to escape financing constraints and reinvest in public goods;
Support stronger domestic resource mobilization for essential services, including SRHR;
Hold donor governments accountable to their official development assistance commitments—especially for health, gender equality, and the rights of women and girls;
Prioritize the role of civil society to inform, shape, and monitor investments in health and development.

PAI remains committed to working with governments, financial institutions, and communities to move from promises to progress. Investing in SRHR is investing in dignity, health, resilience, and opportunity—for everyone, everywhere.

During FfD4, Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins will deliver remarks during a parliamentary convening hosted by the European Parliamentary Forum on the first 180 days of the Trump Administration’s impact on global health and development. She will also deliver opening remarks at a high-level event hosted by the United Nations Spotlight Initiative, in partnership with UNFPA, UN Women, IOM, the Spotlight Initiative’s Global Civil Society Reference Group, and the International Olympic Committee, among others.

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About PAI

To learn more, visit www.pai.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Today, the White House released its “skinny” budget request for fiscal year 2026. The request proposes massive cuts to global health assistance and other international affairs programs. Specifically:

A $6.233 billion cut across global health programs, which, if enacted into law, would represent a 60 percent reduction from the current appropriated level.

Given the magnitude of the cut to global health overall, family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) will inevitably comprise a significant portion of the proposed cut

A zeroing out of all funding is not out of the question.

This president has tried unsuccessfully to zero out family planning in budget requests before—notably in submitting his first budget request during his first term.

Still, this is a preliminary budget without a lot of detail, and the amount of the FP/RH request will not be confirmed until the full president’s budget request is submitted to Congress, perhaps later this month.

During his first 100 days, Trump, Elon Musk, and their legions have slashed and burned the foreign aid architecture of the U.S. government that has been built over the last 60 years. So, it’s no surprise that this budget is full of mis- and dis-information about global health assistance and offers further evidence of their obsession with using U.S.-funding for international FP/RH as one of the “radical, leftist priorities” to politically bludgeon U.S. foreign assistance programs.

Access to voluntary FP/RH services is essential to ending preventable maternal and child deaths, reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and combatting gender-based violence. Cutting off U.S. foreign assistance for family planning has already cost an estimated 12 million women and girls access to contraceptive care since late January, and is estimated to lead to 34,000 deaths in 2025 alone.

Although the budget request purports to focus global health funding “on life-saving assistance and preventing infectious diseases from reaching the United States,” the evidence bears that FP/RH are life-saving, despite this administration deeming them otherwise. Maternal mortality is the leading cause of death for girls ages 15-19 globally, and pregnancy and childbirth remain risky endeavors in much of the world. In FY 2024, U.S. international FP/RH assistance (including a U.S. voluntary contribution to the UNFPA) resulted in several positive health outcomes, including:

Preventing 17.1 million unintended pregnancies and 5.2 million abortions.
Enabling 47.6 million women and couples to receive contraceptive services.
Preventing 34,000 maternal deaths.

“It is unconscionable to propose slashing billions from global health and family planning programs that save lives and uphold the dignity of millions,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. This dangerous imbalance will cost countless women, children, and families their health—and, in many cases, their lives. For every $1 the U.S. invests in family planning, we see nearly $4 in returns through improved health outcomes, economic stability, and gender equity. Cutting these programs is not only morally indefensible—it’s fiscally reckless. Investing in global health reflects the values of compassion, equity, and leadership that America has long claimed to stand for. Turning our backs now will have deadly consequences and tarnish our global standing.”

President Trump reinstated the Global Gag Rule (GGR) earlier today aboard Air Force One on his way to California. During his first term, the GGR was expanded and barred foreign NGOs that accept US funding for global health programs from using their own non-U.S. funds to provide abortion services, information, counseling, referrals, or advocacy. Today’s Presidential Memorandum reinstated that policy, applying the GGR restrictions to U.S. global health assistance provided to foreign NGOs.

The reinstated GGR will cripple healthcare systems worldwide as organizations unable to comply will face devastating funding losses. Clinics will be forced to close, services will be discontinued, and the cost of care will rise, leaving millions of women without access to contraception, prenatal care, and other critical health services.

Today, 164 million women have an unmet need for modern contraception. The policy denies their ability to decide if and when to become pregnant. In addition, in the past, the GGR has led to increases in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and preventable maternal deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth.

“For over four decades, the GGR has prioritized harmful politics and regressive ideology over the health and lives of women, girls, and families worldwide,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “It is a policy that is out of step with the will of the American people, guidance of the global health and scientific communities, and advancement of the rights of women and youth around the world.”

“No matter who holds power in Washington, our mission remains unchanged. PAI will continue to advocate for reproductive rights with tenacity and unity, ensuring that communities worldwide receive the essential care they deserve. We will work relentlessly to uphold the trust placed in us to secure a healthier, more equitable future for all.”

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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 pai.org.

In response to the election of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, and the Republican party’s control of the Senate and potential control of the House of Representatives, Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, PAI President and CEO, issued the following statement:

“We know from the actions taken by the previous Trump administration that attacks on gender equality, human rights and sexual and reproductive health are imminent and are coupled with the very real threat of Project 2025.

“We will oppose the implementation of policies and actions, such as the Global Gag Rule, that deny people their fundamental human rights, including the right to reproductive health care. We will provide trusted support to international organizations that rely on US government support and partnership. We will ensure that evidence-based health care, desired by women and youth, is delivered.

“Irrespective of the political shifts in the United States and the challenges that may lie ahead, our movement must remain steadfast in our shared mandate and resolute in our collective voice. 

“PAI will remain ever-vigilant, collaborative and hopeful.  We will uphold our values on reproductive rights and deliver on what communities around the world have entrusted PAI to advance for all people and generations to come.”

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About PAI

PAI champions policies that put women, youth and at-risk communities in charge of their sexual and reproductive health and rights. We work with policymakers in Washington, D.C., and our network of more than 120 funded partners across 36 countries to remove roadblocks to accessing sexual and reproductive health services and support. For nearly six decades, PAI has helped communities succeed by upholding their basic rights.

To learn more, visit www.pai.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

PAI is pleased to welcome Mustafa Kudrati as its Senior Vice President for Program Strategy and Growth. Kudrati brings more than 30 years of management, operations, policy, and program experience to PAI in global health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, youth programming and gender equality.

“I am delighted that Mustafa has joined PAI at such an important time for our organization and movement,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, PAI’s president and CEO. “Throughout his career, Mustafa has made lasting global contributions to sexual and reproductive health and rights through his deep technical and strategic expertise and trusted stewardship of partner organizations and programs. In addition, Mustafa brings extensive management and operational background, and I am looking forward to working together as we advance PAI’s mission and mandate and the consequential priorities of our sector.”

Kudrati’s appointment is the result of an extensive leadership search. As Senior Vice President of Program Strategy and Growth, Kudrati will serve in the executive office and oversee the organization’s progress against its strategic plan, develop and oversee external partnerships, lead institutional donor engagement and partner with peers in the SRHR movement to elevate the sector’s needs, opportunities and impact.

“Now, more than ever, young people around the world are demanding a more expansive policy, systems and services rooted in a deep understanding of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and yet at the same time, the movement faces very strong headwinds,” said Kudrati. “PAI has always been steadfast in its advocacy, and I am elated to be part of a team that is deeply committed to building on PAI’s excellent history of advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights through movement building and partner engagement.”

Kudrati joins PAI after serving as Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at JSI and has served in executive leadership roles at Plan International USA, EngenderHealth and Pathfinder. Kudrati is a board member of FP2030 — the world’s largest multi-sectoral partnership working to advance access to family planning services and reproductive health.

Kudrati also co-founded the Kuleana Center for Children’s Rights in Tanzania. This child rights center worked to re-integrate street children into their home communities and focused on popularizing the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child at a national level. Kuleana became a model for serving at-risk children and was a recipient of the 1998 UNICEF Maurice Pate Award for its innovative work and contribution to improving the situation of children in the country.

Kudrati has a Master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Hamilton College. He was born and raised in Tanzania. His first day at PAI is September 23.

PAI welcomes Dr. Vineeta Gupta and James Siegal to its board of directors. The board’s combined expertise and strategic support guide PAI toward achieving its mission, vision and goals.

“PAI is extremely pleased to welcome Vineeta and James to our board of directors in this critical moment for the organization and the movement,” said Neeraja Bhavaraju, Chair of the PAI Board of Directors. Their track record of leadership, strategy and engaging with expansive networks to sustain and advance organizational mandates is extraordinary and their contributions to PAI will undoubtedly strengthen our impact.”

Dr. Gupta, is a leader with a rich legacy of advocacy and leadership. Her recognition as a public health leader, maternal health physician and human rights lawyer is a testament to her exceptional qualifications. Her personal journey from being a clinician focusing on reproductive and maternal health programs in rural communities and communities affected by the greatest health disparities in India to advocating for and influencing global health policies for health equity across the United States and around the world has made her a force within the sexual and reproductive health and rights movement.

“I am thrilled to join the PAI Board of Directors and am committed to supporting one of the leading advocacy, accountability, and research institutions for the sexual and reproductive health and rights sector around the world,” said Dr. Gupta. “PAI has a critical role in the broader global health ecosystem, working in partnership with civil society. I look forward to supporting its governance and strategy imperatives that enable PAI to achieve its mission and mandate.”

Dr. Gupta has brought her expertise to bear by stewarding global coalitions, working with leading donor institutions to support strategy development and sharing her technical expertise through panels, workshops and presentations for prestigious organizations and institutions like The Lancet, Women Deliver, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Student Association, the Bloomberg American Public Health Summit, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, Brown University, UPenn, Georgetown University and the Public Health Law Conference. Dr. Gupta is also published in national and international media, has been a vocal spokesperson for health and human rights, has led programs in over 30 countries and has supported the capacity of over 140 nonprofit organizations and associations.

Mr. Siegal, a Senior Fellow at KABOOM! and its former CEO, is a recognized national champion in the fight against inequities that affect youth and communities impacted by discrimination and inequities in the United States. He is a sought-after strategic, financial and organizational leader who has worked across the government, non-profit and private sectors to strengthen and transform organizations and their mandates in service to communities most affected by injustice. At KABOOM!, he led a bold mission refresh grounded in achieving play space equity to close the pay gap among Black, Brown, and Indigenous children in the United States as a result of structural and systemic racism. Mr. Siegal’s deep experience in forging strategic institutional, major donor and national and local government partnerships has been instrumental in driving positive change and enabling intersectional action across play and mental health and belonging, physical and cognitive development, academic achievement and social justice.

“PAI’s mandate is so critical in this time where inequity, discrimination and inequality continue to have harmful and lasting effects on the agency of women and youth across the United States and globally,” said Mr. Siegal. “I am honored to serve on PAI’s Board of Directors and am committed to helping advance PAI’s mission in advancing global health and rights in partnership with communities around the world.”

Before KABOOM! James served as Chief of Staff for the Corporation for National and Community Service. This federal agency supports citizen engagement to address community challenges through AmeriCorps, the Social Innovation Fund and other programs. James has broad experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors, including having served as Vice President of Nonprofit Programs and Practice at the leading non-profit coalition, Independent Sector. He also served as Registration Section Chief and Assistant Attorney General at the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and as an associate at the global law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

“James and Vineeta’s experiences and leadership come to PAI at a time when the sexual and reproductive health and rights movement is front and center in advancing human rights, gender equality and economic prosperity for women, youth and at-risk communities,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, president and CEO of PAI, who also serves on PAI’s board of directors. “James and Vineeta have a first-hand appreciation of the role of civil society to enable and sustain change while also bringing deep strategic, fiduciary, philanthropic, and governance experience that aligns with PAI’s priorities and our future needs. We are so fortunate to benefit from their leadership as the newest members of our Board of Directors.”

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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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin.

Today PAI stood alongside sexual and reproductive health advocates and champions on the steps of the Supreme Court of the United States to speak out in defense of access to mifepristone, one of two drugs most commonly used in medication abortion in the United States.

Two decades of data from the United States and global data from almost 100 countries where mifepristone is approved demonstrate that mifepristone is safe and vital to protecting women’s health. In addition, mifepristone is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, a document providing a list of life-saving drugs that should be available in health systems worldwide at all times.

“The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA is out of step with science, the consensus of the global health and medical community and the preferences of most people in the United States,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, president and CEO of PAI. “The case ultimately is not about the safety and efficacy of mifepristone or the integrity of the FDA’s decision, but instead, another thinly veiled attempt to dismantle the reproductive health and the rights, agency and autonomy of women.”

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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 pai.org.

Washington, DC – The Economist Impact launched Phase 2 of the Health Inclusivity Index (HII) last week with results indicating that most people worldwide experience barriers to accessing healthcare. Phase 2 builds on phase 1 of the Index, which assessed health inclusivity policy in 40 countries, integrating the findings from a survey of over 42,000 individuals in Index countries worldwide.

Health inclusivity is defined as the process of removing personal, social, cultural and political barriers that prevent individuals and communities from experiencing good physical and mental health. One of the insights included was PAI’s president and CEO and HII Expert Advisory Group Member, Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, who is quoted within the Index noting the intersectional issues of safety, security and health. In the report, Hutchins notes: “These two issues are very much linked. When there is housing insecurity, we also see significant insecurity in health and growing health inequities. In all cases, whether it be health, housing, or education, those who are disproportionately affected are women and girls.”

Hutchins issued the following statement in support of the publication:

“The Economist Impact’s 2023 Health Inclusivity Index reinforces the critical interplay across policy, social, cultural and personal realities to ensure healthy, vibrant communities.

The most significant inequities in health access prevail in communities where health services and information are not available in reliable manners. When health systems do not account for socio-economic and cultural barriers, lack resources to consistently offer consultations, commodities and care, and cannot meet the expressed needs of communities, trust is eroded, access to care is strained and investment in public health is underutilized.

Eliminating health disparities means improving and sustaining access to health information and health services, and it means progress for all people. Policies and health systems should be designed to include communities most affected by health inequities and meet them where they are with the information they want and need. In addition, increasing investments in civil society and community-based efforts to build trust in and awareness of health services are essential for improving health outcomes – especially for women, youth and at-risk communities who face a high health burden but can also catalyze the most remarkable change.”

Statement on the State Department’s Ongoing Destruction of Reproductive Rights

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