First Call for initiating Global Dialogues for the #May28 Campaign: Call to action

On May 28, the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, activists and allies around the world will mobilize in feminist resistance and unwavering solidarity to defend and reclaim sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and justice for all.

SRHR is not just a health issue; it is a matter of dignity, freedom, and equality. It is central to achieving gender justice, asserting bodily autonomy, and building inclusive, sustainable futures. Yet, long-standing structural inequities, regressive policies, and the growing influence of anti-rights groups continue to undermine hard-won gains, deepening disparities and denying millions of marginalized communities including, young people, women, and gender-diverse people their fundamental rights.

SRHR cannot be separated from the broader web of injustices that shape people’s lives. The intersecting impacts of climate change, economic inequality, systemic racism, war, and state-sanctioned violence exacerbate barriers to accessing SRHR. In times of conflict and crisis, women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals face heightened risks—including sexual violence, loss of essential health services, and forced displacement. These realities disproportionately affect those already marginalized, compounding existing vulnerabilities and threatening their health, safety, and bodily autonomy. Recognizing these intersectional challenges is essential to advancing a truly transformative and inclusive SRHR agenda.

In 2024, over 70 national elections took place globally, and the effects of these electoral outcomes are already being felt in early 2025—especially in SRHR. The reinstatement of the Expanded Global Gag Rule (GGR), coupled with the rising of right-wing, nationalist, and religious fundamentalist movements, has emboldened efforts to roll back reproductive freedoms and gender equality.

Organizations providing essential SRHR services now face severe funding cuts, resulting in clinic closures, reduced services, and limited advocacy efforts. Simultaneously, anti-rights groups weaponize misinformation and fear, targeting comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), spreading regressive narratives, and blocking progressive legislation. Civic spaces are shrinking in many countries, and SRHR activists are increasingly at risk—facing surveillance, harassment, and violence for defending human rights.

At the international level, the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) concluded in March with the adoption of a Political Declaration by consensus—but it notably excluded key issues such as safe abortion and SRHR. This omission occurs amid a renewed rise in anti-SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression, and Sex Characteristics) rhetoric, threatening the rights of gender-diverse people globally. Additionally, the United States has rejected and denounced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has withdrawn its affirmation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This move is deeply troubling, as it may further influence other countries to scale back their own commitments—undermining a global framework that has long been a cornerstone of gender equality, health, and inclusive development efforts.

In recent times, there have been deliberate efforts to remove terms like “women,”  “feminism,” “advocates,” “activist” from public-facing websites, official documents and communications. These actions reflect a broader trend of censoring progressive language and rolling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, aiming to suppress discussions on gender equality, reproductive rights, and related topics.​

These challenges remind us that SRHR is inherently political. Our gains are not permanent—they must be defended, and reclaimed continually. Without sustained collective action, progress can be reversed.

Despite this repression, we continue to resist.

In the face of increasing restrictions, SRHR activists worldwide need to organize, mobilize, and envision a future rooted in justice, liberation, and radical hope. Because in a world that seeks to silence us and erase our rights, to hope is to resist. While the political landscape of 2025 is complex, it also presents an opportunity: to reclaim space, build and strengthen alliances, and advance a transformative SRHR agenda that centers the health, dignity, and rights of marginalized communities including young people, women, and gender-diverse individuals.

At this critical juncture, the role of youth and SRHR justice advocates is more vital than ever. Young leaders are rising across regions, bringing bold vision and courage to the forefront. They are leveraging digital platforms, organizing communities, and using storytelling, artivism (art + activism) to challenge regressive narratives and inspire change. Their demand for comprehensive sexuality education, accessible and comprehensive SRHRservices, and gender justice sends a powerful message: as long as our fire burns, the torch will never go out.

Anti-rights groups are trying to influence government policies by pitting SRHR and gender justice against development, as if they are separate issues—when in reality, they are deeply interconnected. With our collective voices and actions as activists, we can dismantle this false dichotomy and reclaim the narrative. We must show that true development cannot exist without SRHR and justice at its core. We reject the framing of our rights as optional or secondary. Instead, we rise to affirm that SRHR is not a barrier to progress but its very foundation. It must be central to every local, national, and global agenda.

Be a May 28 Campaign Partner Now!

We invite organizations and SRHR activists to become May 28 Campaign Partners and join activists worldwide in our Global Dialogues. These dialogues provide a platform for SRHR advocates to address emerging issues, identify priority agendas, and articulate our shared demands for health, rights, and justice. You’ll learn from organizations tackling context-specific challenges and collaborate to shape a unified Call to Action, craft key messages, and develop a comprehensive list of demands. Together, these collective efforts will form the foundation for our campaign mobilization and amplification.