Alongside Nearly 80 Organizations, PAI Introduces Comprehensive Vision for U.S. Policy on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Today, PAI joins a broad coalition of nearly 80 organizations in releasing The Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice, a vision to strengthen health and bodily autonomy both domestically and around the world. This policy agenda provides a way forward for dismantling the barriers to vital health services created by the U.S. government in recent years.

Globally, sexual and reproductive health and rights have been increasingly undermined by Trump-Pence administration policies. From multiple expansions of the Global Gag Rule to defunding the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), PAI has documented the many repercussions of U.S. attacks on medical supply chains, the ability of providers to do their jobs and individuals seeking essential health care. We have been on the forefront of defending sexual and reproductive health and rights by working with Congressional champions to preserve and increase international family planning funding and by supporting foreign NGOs in navigating U.S. policies that harm the communities they serve.

This work, on the ground with our partners and on the Hill, has reinforced the importance of outlining a proactive U.S. policy agenda to advocate for the future we want—one that affords universal access to quality, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care.

“At PAI, we believe that U.S. policies and assistance should pave the way for individuals to access care and exercise their rights, regardless of where they live,” said Suzanne Ehlers, President and CEO of PAI. “We have seen the damage that can be done when this is not the case. The Blueprint outlines a path to reverse course, and PAI is ready to work with policymakers to implement this agenda.”

The Blueprint is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between the sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice communities working internationally and in the United States. Among the calls-to-action for the U.S. government are the following global policy goals:

1. End the Global Gag Rule, as well as actively fund and promote access to safe, legal and accessible abortion throughout the world.
2. Contribute its “fair share” of funding to international family planning and reproductive health programs and eliminate policy riders which undermine the effectiveness of U.S. aid.
3. Commit to advancing free and informed choice across U.S. foreign assistance by replacing the politicized Kemp-Kasten language with comprehensive and enforceable anti-coercion protections across the full range of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues.
4. Protect and promote the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health and rights in multilateral fora.

Endorsing Organizations

Abortion Care Network
Advocates for Youth
AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth & Families
All-Options
All* Above All
American Atheists
American Jewish World Service
American Medical Student Association
American Sexual Health Association
AVAC
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Black Women for Wellness
Black Women’s Health Imperative
Catholics for Choice
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
Center for Reproductive Rights
Civil Liberties & Public Policy Program
Equity Forward
Gender Justice
Global Justice Center
Guttmacher Institute
Harambee Village Doulas
Healthy Teen Network
Ibis Reproductive Health
If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda
International Women’s Health Coalition Ipas
Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health
Jewish Women International
Maroon Calabash
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Abortion Federation
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
National Black Women’s HIV/AIDS Network
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Council of Jewish Women
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
National Health Law Program
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National LGBTQ Task Force
National Network of Abortion Funds
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women’s Health Network
National Women’s Law Center
New Voices for Reproductive Justice
Not Without Black Women
PAI
People For the American Way
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Connection Action Fund
Population Council
Population Institute
Positive Women’s Network-USA
Power to Decide
Reproductive Health Access Project
Secular Coalition for America
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
Sierra Club
SisterLove, Inc.
SisterReach
Social Workers for Reproductive Justice
SPARK Reproductive Justice Now!, Inc.
Surge Reproductive Justice
The Afiya Center
The American Civil Liberties Union
The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health
UltraViolet
URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
#VOTEPROCHOICE
Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health
Women with a Vision
Woodhull Freedom Foundation

The Blueprint can be downloaded at: www.reproblueprint.org

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PAI champions policies that put women in charge of their reproductive health. We work with policymakers in Washington and our network of partners in developing countries to remove roadblocks between women and the services and supplies they need. For over 50 years, we’ve helped women succeed by upholding their basic rights. To learn more, visit pai.org.