Center for Reproductive Rights

Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization that uses law and policy to advance reproductive rights and reproductive health for women and girls around the world, in collaboration with American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch, and United Nations Population Fund. The organization works to ensure that women have access to abortion, contraception, and maternal healthcare, as guaranteed by International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Center for Reproductive Rights has worked with World Health Organization, European Court of Human Rights, and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to advance reproductive rights globally. The organization's work is informed by the principles of Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

● History

The Center for Reproductive Rights was founded in 1992 by Janet Benshoof, a human rights lawyer, with the goal of using law to advance reproductive rights and reproductive health for women and girls around the world, in partnership with Ford Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Open Society Foundations. The organization's early work focused on United States-based cases, including Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States and involved Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and Justice Anthony Kennedy. The Center for Reproductive Rights has also worked with National Organization for Women, American Medical Association, and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to advance reproductive health and reproductive rights in the United States. The organization's global work has been recognized by United Nations General Assembly, European Parliament, and African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

● Mission and Objectives

The mission of the Center for Reproductive Rights is to advance reproductive rights and reproductive health for women and girls around the world, in collaboration with International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International, and EngenderHealth. The organization's objectives include ensuring access to abortion, contraception, and maternal healthcare, as well as promoting comprehensive sex education and HIV prevention programs, in partnership with UNICEF, UNAIDS, and World Bank. The Center for Reproductive Rights also works to address the social determinants of health that affect reproductive health, including poverty, inequality, and discrimination, in collaboration with World Health Organization, International Labour Organization, and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The organization's work is guided by the principles of human rights and social justice, as outlined in Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

● Legal Cases and Advocacy

The Center for Reproductive Rights has been involved in numerous high-profile legal cases and advocacy campaigns to advance reproductive rights and reproductive health, including Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, which was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States and involved Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Elena Kagan, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The organization has also worked on cases related to abortion access in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Poland, in partnership with European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe, and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The Center for Reproductive Rights has collaborated with American Bar Association, National Association of Social Workers, and Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine to advance reproductive health and reproductive rights through law and policy.

● Global Presence and Partnerships

The Center for Reproductive Rights has a global presence, with offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Geneva, and Nairobi, and partnerships with organizations in over 120 countries, including Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. The organization works with local partners to advance reproductive rights and reproductive health at the national and regional levels, in collaboration with African Union, European Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Center for Reproductive Rights has also partnered with United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children's Fund, and World Food Programme to advance reproductive health and reproductive rights globally. The organization's global work has been recognized by Nobel Peace Prize, Right Livelihood Award, and Gruber Prize for Women's Rights.

● Notable Achievements and Impact

The Center for Reproductive Rights has achieved numerous notable successes in advancing reproductive rights and reproductive health around the world, including the repeal of abortion bans in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the expansion of access to contraception in United States, in partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Guttmacher Institute, and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. The organization's work has also contributed to the development of global standards for reproductive health and reproductive rights, including the WHO guidelines on abortion and the UN Human Rights Council resolution on reproductive rights, in collaboration with World Health Organization, United Nations Human Rights Council, and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Center for Reproductive Rights has been recognized for its work with numerous awards, including the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and Hillary Clinton Award for Advancing Women's Rights, and has been named one of the top human rights organizations in the world by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Category:Reproductive rights organizations