Love Alliance Statement: We stand for reproductive justice

Love Alliance Statement: We stand for reproductive justice
Last updated on: 05 March 2024

We, Love Alliance partners, are appalled by the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to revoke the constitutional right to abortion that has been in place in the United States since the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973. We are extremely concerned about the devastating impact this ruling will have not only on women’s health and rights in the United States but also on communities’ bodily autonomy and integrity across the globe.

In the countries where we work, it has been alarming to see the damaging effects of rising conservatism and anti-inequality movements on human rights protections for communities particularly vulnerable to HIV, including young women and girls, sex workers, people who use drugs and LGBTIQ people. These trends impede equal access to comprehensive HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights services for these groups and worsen stigma and discrimination against them, which put them at higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases and impacts their overall health and wellbeing.

The U.S. as the biggest global bilateral funder of HIV/AIDS programs has a huge influence in countries heavily affected by HIV, especially in Africa. Organisations engaging with abortion-related activities saw all funding from the U.S. being discontinued under the Trump presidency when the Mexico City Policy got reinstated by his administration. Even though this policy was lifted by President Biden, the Helms amendment which is still in effect continues to have negative consequences on access to safe abortion for women who need it, even in countries where abortion is legal.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to make things worse by reinforcing anti-SRHR and anti-women’s rights movements across the globe and further reducing funding not just for abortion but for the overall availability of HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health commodities. It may even reverse hard-won gains in the protection of rights of LGBTIQ people, especially in countries where they have been consistently criminalised and stigmatised because of their sexual orientation. Conservative voices and governments may feel empowered by these developments to crack down further on people that are in same-sex relationships.

The exact consequences of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling and its damaging effects on people’s health and wellbeing, the fight against HIV and the advancement of human rights yet have to manifest themselves. More than ever, we are ready to stand up and support communities in their battle against these continuing attacks on their lives and wellbeing.

On the Love Alliance

The Love Alliance is a five-year programme (2021-2025), based on an unwavering commitment to protecting, promoting and fulfilling sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) globally, unifying people who use drugs, sex workers and LGBTIQ+ movements, and amplifying the diversity of voices in these communities. Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Love Alliance brings together national thought leaders GALZ, SANPUD and Sisonke, regional grantmakers UHAI EASHRI and ISDAO, with the global network of people living with HIV (GNP+) and the Netherlands-based administrative lead Aidsfonds. We work in Burkina Faso, Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

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