Global sexual and reproductive health and rights under threat, warn experts
As world leaders gather at the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA 81), experts in a special collection of articles published by The BMJ warn that the proposed merger of U.N. Women and the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA)—two vital institutions for protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)—will weaken global commitments to gender equality.
As global leaders convene at the 81st UN General Assembly session, a group of health and political experts warn that merging U.N. Women and UNFPA may undermine efforts to safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Protecting SRHR – which encompasses access to contraception, safe pregnancy and birth care, and relationship education – is vital for health, gender equality, and broader development.
This article, published in The BMJ alongside a special collection of seven articles, examines threats from U.S. policy changes, reduced multilateral cooperation, significant funding cuts, and a growing anti-rights movement.
Edited by Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton, the collection highlights a 46% drop in official development assistance from 2024 to 2026, which could lead to 40–55 million extra unintended pregnancies and 12–16 million unsafe abortions in 51 countries. U.S. funding reductions alone pose a severe risk. Clinton urges health and political leaders to act now to create resilient, equitable, and accountable SRHR systems.
Senior Associate Dean at CUNY SPH, Dr. McGovern, argues against the merger of U.N. Women and UNFPA, emphasizing that merging these agencies weakens their independent mandates. She warns that decades of progress in protecting SRHR could be undone unless the UN prioritizes human rights. The collection collectively advocates for maintaining independent mandates, robust financing, and strong civil society involvement to protect global SRHR.
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