In 1994, at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt, the United States joined more than 170 countries in a commitment to tackle global poverty, economic development, and population growth by putting human rights and the empowerment of women and girls at the center of development policies. The following year, at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the United States joined the global community in reaffirming its promise to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as part of the women’s rights agenda. These commitments were groundbreaking.
In 2015, the U.S. government officially recognized SRHR and joined the world in adopting a new development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals.The goal: Gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls
However, the U.S. government has not effectively turned these goals and principles into action through its international policies and foreign assistance. The United States’ role as a leader in SRHR is subject to politics within the executive and legislative branches of government. Ideologies and politically motivated funding restrictions threaten to undermine U.S. action and the global efforts to achieve the goals of SRHR.
Also, the United States’ response to SRHR is fractured. Instead of working together cohesively, U.S. government agencies and funding mechanisms work independently. They are governed by different policies and they are evaluated separately.
CHANGE is Keeping Watch
CHANGE created the SRHR Index to monitor the following U.S. government agencies and their work on SRHR.
Through the SRHR Index, CHANGE holds the U.S. government accountable by annually grading its commitments, leadership, funding levels, and actions across a spectrum of SRHR issues.
CHANGE does not receive funding from the U.S. government
We remain objective and independent in our position as a watchdog organization. Our work is supported by private foundations and by your donations.
