Will the world choose choice?
2024 is the biggest election year in history.
At least 64 national, presidential, or parliamentary elections will take place around the world this year. These elections will shape reproductive health and rights for generations to come.
MSI estimates that there are 823 million women of reproductive age living in countries with elections this year – nearly half (43%) of all women of reproductive age globally. The rights of many of these women will be impacted.
In this pivotal year for reproductive health and rights, we’re calling on the world to choose choice.
How you can choose choice
1. Stay in the know: Knowledge is power. You can join our mailing list to receive the latest news and campaigns on sexual and reproductive health and rights straight to your inbox.
2. Donate to choose choice: MSI is working across 36 countries to provide and advocate for contraception and abortion access. You can power up this work with a donation.
3. Raise your voice for choice: Help us spread the word about why we need to choose choice on the ballot this year, and if you’re in a country with an election, vote for candidates that support choice.
The future of reproductive rights – a snapshot from four countries
MSI Reproductive Choices works across 36 countries and six continents to provide and advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Here’s how elections will impact some of them:
Turning the green wave into action in Mexico
Araceli Lopez Nava, Managing Director for MSI’s Latin America Region
“This year, for the first time in history, Mexico will see their first female president elected – and with cases of gender-based violence at a record high, presidential candidates have made bold commitments to women’s rights. We hope this will see more states moving to decriminalise abortion.”
Resisting an attack on rights in Ghana
Esi Asare Prah, Advocacy & Donor Relations Manager at MSI Ghana
“Opposing sides in Ghana have been wrangling over a bill that would significantly roll-back the rights and autonomy of LGBTQIA+ people. The legislation was heavily influenced by the US-based anti-choice and anti-rights groups, Family Watch International and the World Congress of Families. The outcome of this year’s election could determine whether the bill is signed into law, and risks opening the floodgates to a wider rollback of sexual and reproductive rights.”
The long shadow of America’s Global Gag Rule
Amanda Seller, President of MSI United States
“40 years ago, the first Global Gag Rule was introduced, blocking US Government funding for international organisations that deliver, provide information on, advocate for, or even refer people to abortion care. MSI has never and will never sign the Global Gag Rule and when it was reintroduced by Trump in 2017, we estimate that 8 million women lost access to our sexual and reproductive health services, resulting in 20,000 maternal deaths. If Trump is re-elected in the United States, he is expected to re- expand the Global Gag Rule further.”
Reproductive justice and Madagascar’s abortion ban
Eugene Andriamasy, Partnerships & Advocacy Manager at MSI Madagascar
“Madagascar has one of the strictest abortion laws in the world, with access restricted even in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the health of the woman or pregnant person. Against that backdrop, MSI Madagascar and our partners at Ipas have worked behind the scenes to develop a Reproductive Justice Network within Parliament, garnering the support of 20 cross-party Parliamentarians who would support expanding access to safe abortion.”
Protecting choice in a pivotal year
In this critical year for change, let’s vote for candidates that will push forward reproductive health and rights, never backwards.
With choice firmly on the ballot this year, those of us who believe in the right to choose will need to raise our voice.
As a global reproductive health and rights charity, we’ll be working globally to hold the line on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and campaign for the right laws and policies that support reproductive choice.
You can help power up that work with a donation.
Donate to support reproductive choice
£24 – help a girl stay in school
£24 could provide a young woman with contraception for four years, so she can finish her education.
£40 – provide access to safe abortion
£40 could provide a woman with safe and compassionate abortion care in one of our global programmes.
£100 – fight the roll-back of reproductive rights
£100 could bolster our campaign for reproductive rights, fighting back against anti-choice groups.