Abortion access for everyone—
no matter who, no matter where
Our vision
A world where all people have the right and ability to determine their own sexuality and reproductive health.
Our mission
Ipas builds resilient abortion and contraceptive ecosystems using a comprehensive approach across sectors, institutions, and communities.
How we’re meeting today’s challenges and advancing reproductive justice for all
Ipas’s Strategy 2025-2028
For more than 50 years, Ipas has resisted and persisted.
Since 1973, we have worked to ensure that all people—no matter who, no matter where—can access the sexual and reproductive health care they need, including abortion. We believe everyone has the right to control their own body, health and future. These basic human rights are necessary to achieve gender equity, and to support the health and wellbeing of women and girls everywhere.
Societies are also stronger when women and girls—and all people who can become pregnant—have bodily autonomy. Indeed, evidence shows that abortion access has widespread benefits. When people can safely get an abortion, it not only improves their own quality of life, but that of their families, communities and even countries.
Today, there are increasing threats to people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, making Ipas’s work more vital than ever. We’re no stranger to today’s challenges, and our 50+ years of experience have prepared us well for this critical moment.
We are ready, and we know what to do.
Two paths show what’s at stake
We work for a world where every person can determine their own future and live up to their fullest potential. This means everyone must have bodily autonomy. And depending on where a person lives, there can be myriad barriers blocking their ability to make their own sexual and reproductive health decisions.
The paths of Mina and Mary shown here illustrate how holistic, comprehensive support for bodily autonomy—or a lack of such support—can shape the path a young girl may follow, depending on where she lives and the policies and programs in place to ensure she’s in control of her future.
Mina
Age 14
Has no access to sexuality education; does not know how to prevent pregnancy
Age 15
Forced to marry because her family struggles financially
Age 16
Has no access to contraception and becomes pregnant. Has no access to abortion.
Age 17
Has her first child and drops out of school
Future
Limited opportunities and continued financial hardship
Mary
Age 14
Has comprehensive sexuality education; knows how to prevent pregnancy
Age 15
Does not marry and stays in school, supported by community groups and cultural norms
Age 16
Safe from gender-based violence thanks to protective laws and community efforts
Age 17
Can access contraception and avoids unwanted pregnancy
Age 18
Graduates school and finds a good job
Age 25
Marries and has children when she is ready
Future
Marries and has children when she is ready
Our comprehensive approach creates lasting change
We know that guaranteeing the right to abortion isn’t enough. Economic, cultural, religious and systemic barriers prevent many people from accessing abortion care even where it’s legal and available.
That’s why our sustainable abortion ecosystem model works. When we work strategically across institutions and communities to break down abortion stigma and expand knowledge on sexual and reproductive rights, we co-create an ecosystem where people have the information they need to make decisions about their own health, where there’s community and health system support for human rights and abortion access, and where laws and policies support full bodily autonomy.
Our intersectional priorities
We have long worked with partners to tackle intersectional issues, such as the rights of people who are LGBTQ+, indigenous, or living with disabilities. Now we will sharpen our lens on issues that crosscut the abortion ecosystem and that have emerged as priorities for our teams around the world: gender justice, gender-based violence, climate justice, and work in crisis settings.
These issues are global. We see the impact of the climate crisis everywhere—including where Ipas works—and how it harms access to abortion. We know that in times of crisis and turmoil, women’s and girls’ rights to self-determination, bodily autonomy, and freedom from violence are threatened most. Pervasive gender inequality is always dangerous to women’s and girls’ health and wellbeing, and it is especially risky in times of war, natural disasters, conflict, or any other crisis.
Learn more about our intersectional work
Advancing gender equity
Improving care for survivors of gender-based violence
Advocating for women-led climate justice
Making abortion accessible in crisis settings