Ibis Reproductive Health Promotes Women’s Reproductive Rights Worldwide

Ibis Reproductive Health, a global non-profit organization, has placed itself at the forefront of the fight for women’s reproductive rights. With its mission of improving reproductive autonomy, choices, and health for women regardless of their social status, race and religion, the organization focuses on social and clinical research on several issues including abortion, contraceptives, and HIV. These areas of research have been identified due to the inadequate attention given by researchers, which resulted in evidence gaps.

The organization’s agenda including its programs is driven by the priorities of women and, thus, its focus on increasing effective and efficient access to healthcare services. By establishing strategic partnerships with organizations and stakeholders, the results of its research are used toward the improvement of policies and the delivery of women-focused services across several countries.

Ibis Reproductive Health focuses in social and clinical research on these areas:

• Abortion

Ibis’ top priority is increasing access to safe abortion. Its work prioritizes documenting the impact of abortion bans and restrictions; researching on second-trimester abortion; evaluating implementation models for increased abortion access; and building alliances with maternal health advocates and networks toward placing safe abortion on the government’s maternal health agenda.

• Contraception

Ibis’ top priority for contraception includes coordination of the efforts in the public and private sector for greater access and use of a wide range of contraceptive methods especially in family planning programs. It is also working toward identifying and removing barriers to contraception in several countries.

• Linking Reproductive Health and HIV

Ibis works toward broadening the integration of women-centered healthcare services by linking the wide range of reproductive and sexual health services with HIV services. It focuses on increasing effective access to reversible contraception for women diagnosed as HIV-positive. Its previous focus on HIV/STI prevention has been integrated into this research area, too.

Ibis Reproductive Health works in several countries including the United States and South Africa as well as in countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa.