Restoring US leadership, increasing corporate action and ensuring SRHR in UHC

The UN Foundation believes that access to quality, affordable and safe contraception is a right, critical for girls and women's health, and for them to make decisions about their lives and to access educational and economic opportunities. We will work to protect and increase U.S. funding for international family planning, repeal the harmful global gag rule, and lay the groundwork to advance a pro-active and affirmative agenda restoring the U.S. as a global leader on SRHR. As a member of the Alliance for Gender Equality and UHC, we will also promote an inclusive definition of UHC that protects and ensures SRHR. And through our partnership on Heroines for Health, together with Women in Global Health, the UN Foundation works to elevate SRHR champions, including frontline health workers like midwives.

The United Nations Foundation, together with partners is also leading the initiative to work with companies that have large global supply chains employing millions of women workers to improve the health and well-being of their workers. Women in developing countries are entering the workforce at unprecedented rates. Hundreds of millions of women work in global supply chains, and in sectors like garment manufacturing, flower farming, and coffee, cocoa, and tea production, women make up between 50 and 80 percent of the workforce. But too often, the needs of these women workers – from basic health care, to protection from harassment and violence, to economic empowerment – are neglected. Investing in women’s health and well-being in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do: a healthier workforce reduces absenteeism and turnover while increasing productivity, helping companies reap the benefits of financial returns and social impact.

Mode of engagement:

• Policy and guidance
  UNF will work to protect U.S. funding for international family planning and UNFPA and end the global gag rule; increase corporate action to meet the SRH needs of women working in global supply chains; and promote an inclusive definition of UHC that ensures SRHR.