NGO - Center For Reproductive Rights

     The Center of Reproductive Rights(CRR) was founded in 1992 by Janet Benshoof as the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy with the goal of making reproductive rights human rights. The CRR uses two different approaches for advocacy. They use the legal system to fight laws that violate reproductive rights like safe access to abortions, restrictions to contraceptives, etc. They also do campaigns to bring attention to many different problems that harm women and their reproductive rights. From the CRR’s efforts, many places around the world have seen protections for reproductive rights, such as in Nepal, where they managed to overturn a law that criminalized abortion and now women have access to safe, affordable abortions. In the US, they have protected abortion rights in multiple states while trying to build a case against the reversal of Roe v Wade. Just recently in Zambia, they filed an appeal for a woman who had terminated a pregnancy when she couldn’t afford a legal abortion, which got the courts to rule in her favor and freed her from jail. They have worked with multiple parts of the UN like the Human Rights Council to advance laws and define what must be done for reproductive rights to become human rights.

    While CRR is stationed in the US, there are multiple offices around the world, such as in Kenya and Switzerland. They have a presence all around the world, as their goal is global recognition of reproductive rights. Press releases are released in multiple languages based on where the case/action takes place. There are various programs CRR has for different continents like their Africa and Europe programs. You can sign up on their website to get a newsletter and stay informed about what is going around the world, and you can also donate on their website to help their cause. Also on their website, you can find every court case they have fought. Unfortunately, they have lost many cases, and many are still ongoing. However, they have also won many cases, especially in recent times, like the aforementioned case in Zambia, and getting Peru to recognize reproductive violence like forced sterilization as institutionalized violence. One of their recent losses was in North Dakota to stop the ban on abortions in the state, which was ultimately denied by the State’s Supreme Court. Not every court case will be won, but what is important is that there is still someone fighting against injustices so there is a chance. About 50% of the funding for the CRR is from donations from individuals and foundations, and around 40% is from In-Kind donations, with the rest from things like events.