This week, I join youth activists, leaders of civil society, ministers and parliamentarians, and others committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, to mark the five-year anniversary of SheDecides. The high-level convening, hosted by His Excellency Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, will reaffirm our collective action to uphold the right for all women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies, lives, and future. 

April 22 is the 52nd Earth Day. This year’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet”—a call for governments, organizations, and individuals to invest in a better future and to preserve and protect health, families, and livelihoods.

Family Planning 2030 (FP2030), the global family planning partnership, today announced its two new regional hubs in Africa, including one in Abuja, Nigeria. The Abuja-based hub will be hosted by Population Council Nigeria and will serve North, West, and Central Africa.

We hear it in nearly every sexual and reproductive health conversation today—from HIV prevention to family planning to STI treatment, people want and deserve choice. Whether it’s a pill, ring, injectable, or newer delivery method, we know that a person’s ability to choose a method that works for them is crucial.  

This year’s sixty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is dedicated to “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programs.”

March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a global event that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. This year, the day is also a call to #BreakTheBias for a gender-equal world that is free of prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination. 

The Population Council pays tribute to Dr. Elof D.B. Johansson and his legacy of contributions to improving the health and reproductive choices of women, men, and young people globally. Johansson passed away on 30 January at his home in Western Sweden.