Request for Sign-On: HRC 45 Joint Civil Society Statement on Abortion

Published on September 16, 2020

In support of the upcoming International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September, the Sexual Rights Initiative, the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, the International Service for Human Rights, the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education have developed a joint statement on abortion rights for delivery at the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

The focus of this year’s statement is on abortion in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This initiative builds on our previous joint statements on abortion to the Council these past 3 years, including last year’s statement signed by over 350 organizations and 530 persons. We hope you will join us and sign on again this year!  The statement is available in English for your review and will soon be available in Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian.

The HRC session runs from 14 September to 6 October, and the statement will be delivered during the general debate on the implementation of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, scheduled on Wednesday 30 September. A few requirements need to be fulfilled including connecting the statement with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and observing the 1:30-minute time limit. Please note that a shorter version of this statement will be delivered orally to fit the time requirements, but that this longer version will be posted on the HRC Extranet and used for promotion and dissemination.

We invite groups, organizations and individuals [Note: there is an option to keep your name anonymous] to sign on to the statement by Sept. 29th, 6PM CEST by filling out the following sign-on form and following its instructions:

We would be very grateful if you could help us disseminate the statement far and wide with your networks. Thank you!