Reproductive rights

A view of the process on a montior as lab staff use a microscope stand and articulated hand controls to extract cells from 1-7 day old embryos that are then checked for viability at the Aspire Houston Fertility Institute in vitro fertilization lab in Hous

Why an international court struck down Costa Rica’s IVF ban

The World's host Carolyn Beeler speaks with Lynn Morgan, a medical anthropologist focused on Latin America, about Costa Rica's legal battles and religious debates about allowing access to IVF.

Why an international court struck down Costa Rica’s IVF ban
Nathalie Vilgrain, sixth from left, is the head of Marijàn, a feminist organization in Port-Au-Prince that is sheltering about 150 women who have been displaced by sexual violence.

In Haiti, sexual violence is devastating women and girls

In Haiti, sexual violence is devastating women and girls
Brett Griffin Young with his partner and three children.

Surrogacy advocates fear pope’s position will create stigma

Surrogacy advocates fear pope’s position will create stigma
A pink sign in the forefront of a largely female crowd that reads in Spanish "Swiftie No Vota Milei"

In Argentina, ‘Swifties Don’t Vote For Milei’

In Argentina, ‘Swifties Don’t Vote For Milei’
Women in a small group holding signs with text written in Spanish

This tiny country is home to Europe’s toughest abortion ban

This tiny country is home to Europe’s toughest abortion ban
a black and white photo of apregnant woman holding her belly and wearing a large coat standing in front of a bridge

Motherhood and motherland: One woman’s pregnancy experience in Russia

Amie Ferris-Rotman, a global news editor for New Lines Magazine, wrote a personal essay about her experience being pregnant in Russia, where many citizens believe it is a woman’s patriotic duty to give birth and become a mother. She talked about it with The World's Marco Werman.

Motherhood and motherland: One woman’s pregnancy experience in Russia
close-up shot of Honduran President Castro wearing a mask

Honduras' first female leader faces tough times

A year and a half into her administration, many say Xiomara Castro has yet to live up to expectations. But as Honduras’ first female president, those expectations are higher than usual. Much of the criticism against Castro comes from machismo and gender discrimination. She’s just one of two female heads of state of a Latin American country.

Honduras' first female leader faces tough times
two men and a baby

Italy debates new anti-surrogacy law 

Surrogacy is banned in Italy, but the government of Giorgia Meloni is now trying to go further: outlawing the practice of having babies through surrogacy abroad. This will likely have an outsized impact on members of the LGBTQ community, which many believe is the point.

Italy debates new anti-surrogacy law 
Posters with a message that read in Spanish "Free abortion."

Founding fatherhood: Part II

Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive this week into the decriminalization of abortion in Colombia, in the context of the country's legacy of war.

Founding fatherhood: Part II
Pregnant women hold their medical cards and wait for their turn to be examined at a government hospital on World Population Day in Hyderabad, India, Friday, July 11, 2014. 

As India becomes the world's most populous nation, engaging men in family planning ‘will be a game changer'

The United Nations projects that next year, India will surpass China and claim the title of the world’s most populous country. India’s population growth has actually been slowing down for many decades, thanks to comprehensive family planning — but the burden mostly falls on women.

As India becomes the world's most populous nation, engaging men in family planning ‘will be a game changer'
woman near a machine

‘They’re hurting themselves’: In Lebanon, women risk their lives to get an abortion illegally 

In Lebanon, a pregnancy can only be terminated if three doctors agree that a woman's life is at risk. But this doesn't stop abortions from happening. 

‘They’re hurting themselves’: In Lebanon, women risk their lives to get an abortion illegally 
Anti-abortion demonstrators outside the U.S. Supreme Court on the day the court overturned the landmark Roe v Wade abortion laws.

Opinion: Roe v. Wade overturned: Will more Americans travel to Canada and Mexico for abortions?

After the ruling by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, will more Americans travel for abortions? Inequalities created by this controversial decision will be revealed at border points.

Opinion: Roe v. Wade overturned: Will more Americans travel to Canada and Mexico for abortions?
Anesthesiologist Liu Jianmin prepares for an abortion at a clinic run by Marie Stopes International in Xi'an in central China's Shaanxi province

Abortion access in China has changed drastically amid declining birth rate

For more than 30 years, the Chinese government had restricted most people to having only one child. Illegal and forced abortions were common, and it led to a massive drop in the country’s birth rate. A new policy that started last year allows couples to have up to three children now, but many people aren't interested.

Abortion access in China has changed drastically amid declining birth rate
A group of women's rights activists with a sign reading "Abortion Without Borders" protesting Poland's strict anti-abortion law, outside the top constitutional court, in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022.

Poland’s ‘pregnancy registry’ will further restrict abortion access, activists say

The Polish government says it is establishing a national medical database, following a directive from the EU Commission, promising to ensure the protection of people's privacy. But in a country with a near-total abortion ban, rights activists are not so convinced.

Poland’s ‘pregnancy registry’ will further restrict abortion access, activists say
a woman enters the Supreme Court in London

Northern Ireland decriminalized abortion 3 years ago. But services are still difficult to access.

Despite the decriminalization of abortion in Northern Ireland several years ago after presiding over some of the harshest legislation in the world, access is far from straightforward. And campaigners on both sides of the issue are rallying after last month’s US Supreme Court leak that's suggested the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Northern Ireland decriminalized abortion 3 years ago. But services are still difficult to access.