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Resist & persist Together we can do this.Together we are resilient. The fight for reproductive justice is facing especially hard times, and the path ahead will not be easy. But the truth is that we’ve already made incredible progress, and we know h …

A study conducted by researchers from Ipas Development Foundation and partners, this study examines national survey data to understand the growing use of self-managed abortion (SMA) in India. The research confirms that SMA—using abortion pills outside of a clinic—has become much more common and is a safe and effective option, especially in early pregnancy.

We’re inspired by our staff and partners around the world who persevere in the face of tremendous challenges. Here are seven changemakers to inspire us all.

In January 2025, violent clashes broke out in Goma, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and North Kivu province, worsening a decades-long conflict and leaving a devastating trail of suffering and destruction.

In Ethiopia, a pilot study on SMA through private pharmacies demonstrates high demand from women and interest from pharmacies in providing women with medication abortion, but Ethiopia’s legal framework presents challenges to a pharmacy-based model.

In forcibly displaced populations, a new study protocol outlines a community-facility capture-recapture approach to better estimate maternal deaths due to abortion complications, helping strengthen measurement where official data is incomplete.

Early in his career, Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) director Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda, then a coordinator with a refugee agency, was confronted with the plight of women and girls who had suffered sexual violence fleeing Central African Republic for refuge in DRC.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, research shows that misoprostol was available in less than 50% of pharmacies and mifepristone and misoprostol in less than 2% of surveyed sites. Mystery client interactions reveal that most pharmacists need training on medication abortion counseling and regimens.

In India, a trend analysis shows a substantial increase in self-managed abortion (SMA) with pills between 2014 and 2021 and demonstrates the transformative power of SMA in increasing access to safe and effective abortion.

For over 50 years, Ipas has worked to ensure that reproductive health care, including abortion and contraception, are available and accessible to all. In this report, we’re proud to share some of the key impacts of our work in 2024.

In Cambodia, an exploration of women’s SMA experiences reveals that young women’s success rates were comparable to those of adult women, and they generally had better experiences than their older counterparts. Young women were more likely to seek support from family and friends, highlighting the important role of social support and the need for accurate information on abortion to be disseminated at the community level.

Ipas’s 2024 research provides crucial evidence on abortion access, care quality, and stigma reduction. With 26 studies in 15 peer-reviewed journals across nine countries, these findings inform policy, improve health services, and advance SRHR worldwide.

Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth in the United States, researchers examined how state-level immigration policies are associated with effective contraceptive method use among US-born and foreign-born Mexican-origin women. Results reveal how exclusionary immigration policies are associated with lower contraceptive use among US- and foreign-born Mexican women.

In Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, young girls face barriers to their dreams due to unwanted pregnancies and gender-based violence. Limited access to sexual health information and contraception restricts their choices—yet some, like 17-year-old Marie, fight for a brighter future. Read her inspiring story of resilience.

Late on Friday, January 24, President Trump doubled down on his administration’s anti-abortion policies, reinstating the harmful Global Gag Rule, rejoining the non-binding Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD), and strengthening the Hyde Amendment. “These …

With accurate information on abortion with pills, people can safely end a pregnancy on their own terms—and will know what to expect during the abortion process. Abortion with pills puts power in people’s hands and gives them control over their own bodies and reproductive choices.

Ritah Anindo’s childhood was marked by poverty, crime and violence. Growing up in Korogocho, an informal settlement in the heart of Nairobi, Kenya, meant that the 27-year-old advocate for youth rights witnessed how deeply intertwined these challenges w …

On his inauguration day, President Trump signed a slew of executive orders, making real what Project 2025 promised. We at Ipas condemn these actions, aimed at rolling back domestic and foreign policies, and ignoring—or violating—basic human rights, par …

We work globally to improve access to abortion and contraception so that every person can determine their own future. We are committed to reproductive justice. We believe in democracy, human rights and access to unbiased information on sexual and repro …

Rahima, a religion-based NGO in Jakarta, Indonesia, aims to create a world where justice and equity prevail for all women. Founded in 1999, the organization elevates female scholars—known as ulama—who can advocate for and facilitate the translation of …