In 2025, the global landscape for abortion rights faces increasing challenges, marked by legislative setbacks, violent repression, and intensified anti-rights activism. Amnesty International has mobilized a global delegation to Bogotá, Colombia, to meet with abortion defenders and highlight the escalating backlash against sexual and reproductive rights, including abortion. This visit was coordinated with significant gatherings such as the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion (CLACAI) and the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), emphasizing the urgency of the struggle for bodily autonomy and fundamental human rights.
Advances and Setbacks in Abortion Rights Worldwide
Despite notable progress, abortion rights are under siege in various global regions. According to recent data, abortion is legally authorized on request in 77 countries, and in 12 countries for broad socio-economic reasons, with many others allowing it under specific health-related circumstances. Yet, this legal access is uneven—restricted by laws, socio-political opposition, and practical barriers like cost, consent requirements, and stigma.
As Amnesty International underscores,
"Whatever the legislation in any given country, women have recourse to abortion in the same proportions: 37 out of 1,000 when the law prohibits it, 34 out of 1,000 when it authorizes it."
The significant difference lies not in the frequency of abortions, but in safety. Unsafe abortions remain a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 39,000 deaths annually according to the World Health Organization.
The aftermath of the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade in the United States is a stark illustration of regression, with 15 U.S. states enacting near-total abortion bans, disproportionately impacting marginalized racial groups, particularly Black women. Similarly, nations like Poland have witnessed tragic consequences, including preventable deaths, due to restrictive abortion laws.
Amnesty International’s Delegation and Core Insights
The Amnesty International delegation’s visit to Bogotá reflects not only solidarity with abortion defenders but also the strategic necessity of uniting voices amid increasing repression. Fernanda Doz Costa, Amnesty’s Director of the Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugees Programme, remarked,
"While many advances have been made towards ensuring life-saving abortion services are available and accessible, anti-abortion narratives and legislation are gaining ground around the world, posing new threats."
She further emphasized the resilience of activists, stating that this "activism around defending gender equality is standing strong in the face of many challenges, and it is a source of inspiration."
Amnesty’s report articulates the growing waves of repression targeting abortion providers and human rights defenders. These individuals face stigmatization, harassment, criminal investigations, and physical violence subject to criminal laws designed to deter or punish abortion advocacy and provision.
Legal Challenges and Human Rights Violations
In countries like Malawi, where abortion remains largely criminalized, the stakes are life-threatening. A landmark decision by Malawi’s High Court in 2025 affirmed the right of sexual violence survivors to access safe abortion care. Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, praised this ruling, saying,
"In a country where abortion remains largely criminalized, this landmark ruling sets an important precedent. It affirms that forcing a woman or girl to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term is a violation of their rights,"
and called for legislative reforms to guarantee access to safe abortion and reduce maternal mortality caused by unsafe procedures.
Such legal victories, while significant, are countered by harsh crackdowns in many jurisdictions. Activists in Afghanistan and Iran endure brutal suppression; under Taliban rule, women have been severely restricted from public life, and Iranian women protesting for their rights face violent reprisals.
Countries like Uganda have strengthened anti-LGBTQ+ laws while trans rights are under attack in the United States, showing the global scope of rights backlash that also affects abortion defenders.
The Intersection of Stigma, Violence, and Healthcare Denial
Abortion rights activists, healthcare providers, and individuals seeking abortion services are subjected to pervasive stigma—manifesting as social exclusion, threats, and legal persecution. Amnesty International highlights numerous cases where this stigma effectively denies access to essential healthcare, contributing directly to preventable deaths.
The case of Josseli Barnica in Texas is a tragic example: she died in 2024 after doctors delayed life-saving treatment due to the state's aggressive six-week abortion ban. Amnesty International’s campaign stresses that
"Abortion is healthcare, and healthcare is a human right that is currently under immense threat globally."
This underscores the urgent need not only for legal protection but also for destigmatizing abortion care.
Broader Impacts on Human Rights and Social Justice Movements
Amnesty International’s findings reveal that the backlash against abortion rights is emblematic of wider assaults on human rights—particularly affecting those advocating for economic justice, climate action, and LGBTQ+ rights. Increasingly, human rights defenders face criminalization, arbitrary detention, and violence.
This crackdown mirrors a disturbing global pattern of suppressive governance, where governments seek to silence dissent and control marginalized populations. Amnesty calls on all governments to repeal discriminatory laws, protect activists and defenders, and ensure comprehensive and affordable access to sexual and reproductive health services.
The Path Forward: Protecting Bodily Autonomy and Human Rights
The global movement for abortion rights, exemplified by the Latin American "Green Wave," offers hope and a blueprint for change. Massive mobilization in countries like Argentina has led to legislative reforms and tangible decreases in maternal mortality, confirming that legalizing abortion saves lives and respects dignity.
Amnesty International remains committed to advancing these causes, campaigning globally to uphold reproductive autonomy, protect defenders, and challenge barriers rooted in stigma and discrimination. The organization's efforts emphasize that reproductive rights are inseparable from human rights and require collective, sustained advocacy to counter the intensifying opposition.