Three prominent women reveal why sexual and reproductive rights are a major human rights issue

Leila is a transnational feminist leader, strategist, and advisor with over 25 years of organizing, advocacy and philanthropic experience advancing human rights, gender equality, and sexual and reproductive rights and justice. Born in Algeria, Leila currently serves as a Senior International Fellow at the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. She also works as Senior Strategist for organizations including the Urgent Action Fund-Africa and Trust Africa, promoting an initiative on Reimagining Feminist and Pan-African Philanthropies.

© Private

What were your hopes for women’s rights when you attended the Cairo conference in 1994?
I was fortunate to move to Cairo in 1993 to work with the steering committee for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). As part of my role, I met with women’s networks from across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to discuss national and regional perspectives for its Programme of Action.

While there were differences across the perspectives and strategies of the global feminist movement, we united around key areas that we knew we wanted to influence to shift from a population control approach to one grounded in women’s rights, poverty elimination and sustainable development. 

Since the ICPD was held in Cairo, it was important to uplift the rich and diverse history, realities, and current struggles of feminist movements across the MENA region as these are often not recognized in the global North, purposely ignored or silenced.

The ICPD Programme of Action was a landmark document in many ways because it centred language that feminists advocated for, which included an intersectional human rights approach to women’s sexual and reproductive health, poverty elimination and economic development. 

30 years on, how do you feel about the state of women’s reproductive rights globally?
Since the ICPD, more than 60 countries have reformed their abortion laws, including recent efforts to decriminalize and liberalize abortion in Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and Benin. However, four countries, including the United States, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Poland, have curtailed abortion rights.

The United States’ position on abortion is out of line with global trends and is a true disgrace — especially for a country that considers itself a democracy. Women around the world know that the feminist struggle to dismantle sexism and male power and ensure that women have opportunities in life will not be achieved until all women have control over their sexual and reproductive lives.

A truly democratic and just world is one where abortion is considered an integral part of women’s and human lives and a common and normal practice over which women have power and control.

Why does this issue matter to you?
Over my lifetime, I have needed abortions, I have accompanied others who needed abortions, I have given birth to two beautiful daughters, I have parented my own children, and I have supported others to parent, all of which are core to my humanity, my life and my reproductive rights.

What needs to change to ensure girls and women globally can access sexual and reproductive rights?
We need deep and radical change that begins with valuing all girls and women, including those who identify as trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming. This must be supported by deep and systemic change at multiple levels of the ecosystem — individual, institutional, sectoral — to ensure that all women and girls benefit from a broad range of accessible, acceptable, affordable and available sexual and reproductive services and rights.