This regional program works with partners across Latin America and the Caribbean to make high-quality sexual and reproductive health care more widely available—and to build movements for abortion rights and repeal of restrictive laws. Ipas is active in the Green Wave feminist movement that has achieved historic law change in Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia in recent years.
Our approaches vary widely based on the local setting, and include work to:
- position abortion as a human rights issue and show how restrictive abortion laws violate international treaties
- educate court officials and government decisionmakers about reproductive rights
- conduct community education to reduce abortion stigma
- train young advocates for sexual and reproductive rights
- ensure sexual and reproductive health, including abortion, are included in university-level health science curricula
- support health facilities with training, mentoring, equipment and supplies so they can offer high-quality abortion care
Argentina
Central America
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
Chile
Mexico
Impact in 2022
people received abortion at Ipas-supported facilities
people received contraceptive services at Ipas-supported facilities
abortion access points supported
civil society organizations partnered with in Mexico and Central America to address gender-based violence, support abortion accompaniment work and train health workers
health professionals from Mexico and Chile participated in an experience exchange organized by Ipas; they visited Argentina to learn more about abortion care at or after 13 weeks
independent pharmacy vendors in the state of Tamaulipas received information about misoprostol for abortion with pills
The case of Beatriz in El Salvador shows dangers of abortion bans
Before the end of 2023, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is expected to rule in the case of Beatriz, a young woman from El Salvador who needed an abortion to protect her life and health but was denied this care because of her country’s total abortion ban. The Court’s ruling could benefit women in El Salvador and across the region.
