Guttmacher’s Destiny Lopez testifies at US Senate on post-Dobbs abortion access
Our acting co-CEO Destiny Lopez offered powerful testimony before the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on June 4, 2024, on the state of abortion access since the Dobbs decision.
Michelle Slaybaugh (Director of Programs, SIECUS) calls for greater male participation in reproductive rights advocacy, emphasizing inclusivity and collective action to drive change and quoting Audre Lorde on the power of unity.
Kelly Baden (Vice President for Public Policy) urges advocates to channel grief and anger into reimagining sexual and reproductive health and rights, drawing inspiration from global movements like Latin America’s Green Wave and emphasizing solidarity across borders.
Candace Gibson (Director of State Policy) warns about the rise of abortion support bans and parental consent laws for contraception, noting how these measures—alongside restrictions on gender-affirming care—systematically erode young people’s bodily autonomy and access to essential health care.
Candace Gibson (Director of State Policy) explains that abortion access was already inequitable before Dobbs and has worsened since, noting 471 restrictive provisions and over 600 proactive measures introduced this year as states battle over reproductive rights.
Lisa Philippo (CHOICE) warns of regional backsliding on sexual and reproductive rights amid growing anti-gender movements, stressing that gender equality and sustainable development require unimpeded SRR—including safe abortion, sexuality education, and protections for LGBTQI+ people and sex workers—and calls for rebuilding progress in the face of mounting pushback.
Kelly Baden (Vice President for Public Policy) reflects on the difficulty of celebrating wins amid widespread abortion bans and recent tragedies, emphasizing that these harms stem from systemic racism, criminalization, and restrictive policies beyond abortion alone.
Floriane Borel (Senior Global Policy Associate) explains that 2025 marks Beijing+30, highlighting the landmark declaration’s commitment to gender equality and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, and previews discussions at the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women.
Floriane Borel (Senior Global Policy Associate) reports from Geneva on the first regional review of UN member states’ progress toward gender equality ahead of Beijing+30, emphasizing Guttmacher’s research on abortion restrictions and the link between comprehensive SRHR and gender equality.
