Debate: Are reproductive rights safe in the Global South?

On 7 July 2022, GH5050’s Professor Sarah Hawkes participated in a debate on women’s reproductive rights in low- and middle-income countries, hosted by SciDev.Net. The debate was prompted by the recent judgement by the US Supreme Court to abolish the right to abortion – a decision that global health advocates fear will have worldwide implications. Global reproductive rights and women’s rights groups are condemning the decision, with grave concerns that such reversals in the US will have a wider impact on the rights and choices of women and adolescents around the world.

The expert panel debated whether reproductive health services in the global South are in jeopardy in light of the court’s decision. The panel examined reproductive health campaigns across the Global South and considered whether legal decisions in the US will have repercussions elsewhere.

You can watch the full recording of the debate online here.

The panel included:

Sarah Hawkes, Co-director of the Centre for Gender and Global Health at University College London; co-director of Global Health 50/50

Rasha Khoury, Assistant Professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Boston University; board member of Médecins Sans Frontières USA

Catalina de la Mar Calderón, Campaigns and Programmes Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Women’s Equality Center

Marleen Temmerman, Head of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at Aga Khan University East Africa; board member for academic, research and training institutes at the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Rajib Acharya, Senior Associate at the Population Council India

Martin Onyango, Associate Director of legal strategies for Africa at the Center for Reproductive Rights

Rebecca Dennis, Associate Director of US policy and advocacy at PAI (Population Action International)