Our Values
Sexuality and the right to reproductive health are fundamental to the human experience. We support those working to ensure that all women and men are able to exercise these rights free from coercion and violence and that young people have access to the information and services they need.
Our Work
In some societies around the world, discussion of human sexuality and reproductive health and rights has often been considered too sensitive or too personal for serious exploration. At the same time, governments implement laws and programs that have direct or unanticipated impacts on these basic human freedoms, with little or no input from those most affected. As a result, healthy development and the exercise of personal decision making in these areas have often been compromised. Our work is directed toward strengthening sexual and reproductive health rights and encouraging comprehensive sexuality education and evidence-based public discourse on sexuality. MORE
Our efforts focus on young women from poor and excluded communities, because they bear the greatest burden of violence and disease. We support sexual and reproductive health policies, innovative programs and research that address the social, cultural and economic factors that undermine improved outcomes for girls and women.
All of this work is motivated by the belief that a deeper understanding of human sexuality is an essential element of human rights and healthy social relationships and that those most affected must be at the fore of efforts to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights are addressed as a cornerstone of individual, family and community health.
Our Focus
Sexuality research
Research into human sexuality is woefully underfunded, concentrated in biomedical disciplines, focused on individual behavioral change and often highly politicized. Little is understood of the social and cultural dimensions of this basic aspect of humanity. Moreover, research in developing countries and communities of color in the United States is not grounded in the realities of the communities. Our work seeks to fill the knowledge gaps so that public policy and programs can be informed by research-based evidence rather than assumed norms. In the United States and globally, we support efforts to strengthen and expand research that addresses the diverse social and cultural dimensions of sexuality and reproductive health. We also fund training for researchers to build the skills and resources to engage the public, policy makers and advocacy communities with new perspectives based on sound research.
Margaret Hempel, Director
Sexual and reproductive rights
Human rights include sexual and reproductive rights, yet many governments fail to provide quality services or adopt and enforce health policies and laws that work for all. We believe that promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive rights is critical to building strong families and communities. The global consequences of government inaction are dire: sexual and gender violence, pervasive discrimination, and inadequate sexual and reproductive health services result in the death or injury of millions of women, men, and children every year. Where programs do exist, the most marginalized are frequently denied access to services and information based on their age, gender, HIV status, sexuality, race, ethnicity or economic status. We support organizing, alliance-building and advocacy among those who are most affected by these challenges. We also work to strengthen the capacity of key leaders across the legal and health sectors to advocate for proven best practices and effective reforms and support alliance-building with movements that address related social inequities. In some countries we seek to strengthen best practices among governments that are committed to achieving reforms with the broadest reach and impact. Across all this work, we are concerned to ensure that the rights of young people and girls in particular are recognized and addressed.
Margaret Hempel, Director
Sexuality education
Young people around the world are increasingly sexually active, initiate sexual activity earlier, marry later and are often victims of sexual violence. Despite these trends, many are denied access to information and support that could enable them to protect their own sexual and reproductive health in an environment free of fear, coercion or shame. Here, too, the consequences are dire: Young people ages 15 to 24 account for 40 percent of new HIV infections; nearly 13 million adolescents give birth each year; and sexual- and gender-based violence against youth is widespread. To address these challenges, we support school- and community-based programs and advocacy efforts that expand access to sexuality education, especially among marginalized youth. Working in partnership with key nonprofit organizations, funders and government agencies, these programs enable young people to access accurate information and provide a space for discussion of sexuality, gender roles, and sexual and reproductive health and their relationship to poverty and discrimination.
Margaret Hempel, Director
Addressing social and cultural barriers to sexual and reproductive health
Young women from poor and excluded communities face the highest risk of sexual violence and disease. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, one in three teenage girls has HIV and over the past two years, the number of HIV-positive women and girls has increased in every region of the world, with rates rising most rapidly in Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. The World Health Organization estimates that worldwide one in three women will be beaten or coerced into sex in her lifetime. In many parts of the world, gender inequality and poverty close off many life options for girls. Yet sexual and reproductive health programs often ignore the social, cultural and economic factors that prevent young people from making healthy decisions and that contribute to their vulnerability to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes, exposure to HIV, sexual violence and undesired pregnancy. We support efforts to bring to scale promising initiatives that address gender and economic inequalities; challenge social stigmas that prevent services from meeting the needs of youth; and apply an integrated approach to HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health.
Margaret Hempel, Director