Center for Reproductive Rights

Reproductive freedom lies at the heart of the promise of human dignity, self-determination and equality embodied in both the U.S. Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Center works toward the time when that promise is enshrined in law in the United States and throughout the world. We envision a world where every woman is free to decide whether and when to have children; where every woman has access to the best reproductive healthcare available; where every woman can exercise her choices without coercion or discrimination. More simply put, we envision a world where every woman participates with full dignity as an equal member of society.

Since 1992, our attorneys have boldly used legal and human rights tools to create this world. We are the only global legal advocacy organization dedicated to reproductive rights, with expertise in both U.S. constitutional and international human rights law. Our groundbreaking cases before national courts, United Nations committees, and regional human rights bodies have expanded access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control, safe abortion, prenatal and obstetric care, and unbiased information. We influence the law outside the courtroom as well, documenting abuses, working with policymakers to promote progressive measures, and fostering legal scholarship and teaching on reproductive health and human rights.

We are legal innovators seeking to fundamentally transform the landscape of reproductive health and rights worldwide, and have already strengthened laws and policies in more than 50 countries. Help us realize every woman's right to reproductive health and autonomy: Take action. Donate.

The Center is a legal innovator seeking to fundamentally transform the landscape of reproductive health and rights worldwide.

We have defined the course of reproductive rights through our victories in regional, federal, and local Courts around the world, as well as at the United Nations. We also influence the law outside the courtroom, Reporting on Rights and Engaging policymakers to promote progressive ideas and defeat proposals that are discriminatory, punitive, or dangerous to women's health.

The Center is expanding the world community of knowledgeable, committed reproductive rights champions. We sponsor Conferences and Trainings for lawyers and other advocates. And our Law School Initiative is revolutionizing the way reproductive rights law is taught in the U.S.

In the U.S. for over 40 years, there has been an unyielding assault on women’s fundamental right to decide whether to carry a pregnancy to term.The Center is more than prepared to meet this challenge in the United States. While we face some of the toughest cases since our founding, we are energized by the recent introduction of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a robust and far-reaching federal bill conceived of by the Center to render the tactics of hostile anti-choice politicians unlawful, and to clear away the legislative interference that threatens to close clinics and prevent too many women from exercising their rights. We are ramping up our outreach to state policy makers to promote a positive women’s health agenda and to call on the government at all levels to support policies that protect women’s access to reproductive healthcare.