A woman in El Salvador has a miscarriage, and is jailed for aggravated homicide because the state suspects her of having a clandestine abortion.
A wife and mother of 5 children in Burkino Faso can't get contraceptives because her husband refused, and the health clinic won't give them to her if he's not there.
If proposed laws are passed, a family law judge in Iran could be offered a bonus if their case results in a "reconciliation" rather than divorce, making it even harder for a woman to escape an abusive relationship.
In far more places than you might imagine, laws exist making women second-class citizens.
Control over sexual and reproductive choices often ends up in the hands of others — husbands, in-laws, family members or religious groups. The consequences are devastating.
Whoever you are, wherever you live, all the decisions you make about your own body should be yours.
Add your name to the My Body My Rights Manifesto.
I endorse the My Body My Rights Manifesto - principles which unite us in our quest to claim control over our bodies, health and the personal decisions that affect our futures.
- Consensual sex is never a crime – whatever our sex, sexuality, gender identity or marital status.
- Seeking an abortion – or helping someone get one – does NOT make us criminals.
- Affordable, confidential and quality health services, including access to contraception, is not a luxury – it's a human right.
- Education and information on sex and relationships must be based on scientific evidence, and should be available to everyone.
- We all have the right to live free from all forms of violence, including rape.
- We have the right to have a say in the laws, policies and programmes that affect our bodies and our lives.
- If our sexual and reproductive choices are denied, we have the right to report it, have it investigated and be confident that justice will be served.
