In Europe, the Center for Reproductive Rights has been working for more than 25 years to challenge laws and policies that restrict access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and violate a range of sexual and reproductive rights. Our team in the region collaborates with national civil society organizations and regional partners to drive national and regional legislative change strategies, galvanize and inform decision makers, shape jurisprudence and prevent rollbacks.
Serious gaps in protection for sexual and reproductive rights remain across Europe
20
European countries still criminalize women for having an abortion outside of legal pathways.
16
EU Member States still do not provide undocumented migrant women with affordable maternal health care throughout pregnancy.
15+
European countries do not allow lesbian couples and single women equal access to assisted reproduction.
Driving law reform strategies, galvanizing decision makers, shaping jurisprudence and preventing rollbacks
In too many parts of Europe, laws and policies still substantially curtail access to abortion, assisted reproduction, midwife-led maternal healthcare pathways and personal and bodily integrity in childbirth. In many countries, laws and policies fall short of international human rights and public health standards. Our team in the region collaborates with national civil society organizations and regional partners to strengthen protections and push for better laws and policies in focus countries, at the European Union and the Council of Europe.
I am grounded in the belief that every step, whether it is a legal judgment, a shift in public discourse, or a moment of solidarity, builds momentum toward justice.
Advancing sexual and reproductive rights through law and policy
We drive legislative change, empower national partners and galvanize decision makers to advance sexual and reproductive rights across Europe. We work closely with civil society organizations, lawyers, healthcare workers and human rights advocates across Europe. We push for laws and policies that protect sexual and reproductive rights, advocate to prevent setbacks, and hold governments accountable.
The Center uses legal, human rights, and public health approaches to advance and protect sexual and reproductive rights in Europe.
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The Center uses legal advocacy to push for stronger laws and policies to expand access to abortion, contraception and maternal health care across Europe, and to eliminate discriminatory barriers that prevent people from exercising their rights.
Despite immense progress, the risk of regression remains a pressing concern in some parts of Europe.
The Center partners with civil society groups to resist restrictive laws and policies, counter harmful narratives, and defend hard-won progress on reproductive rights across the region.
The Center engages with European Union institutions to advance legal protections for sexual and reproductive health and rights. We advocate for EU policies that promote gender equality, expand access to essential SRHR services, and address persistent barriers across Europe.
Learn more about how the Center works to protect and promote reproductive rights in Europe.
