Identity Initiative: Charter of Values and Rebrand

Increased Violence – Heightened risk of gender-based violence (GBV), including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and child marriage, disproportionately affecting women and marginalised communities.

Vector-Borne Diseases – Rising temperatures and changing ecosystems increase diseases like malaria and dengue, which disproportionately affect pregnant individuals, leading to higher maternal and neonatal risks.

Disruptions to Health Services – Increased maternal and infant mortality due to damaged healthcare infrastructure, disruption of supply chains for contraceptives and maternal care, and lack of access to skilled birth attendants.

Increased Vulnerability of Marginalized Communities– The compounded impact of climate change on maternal health, malnutrition, disease, and lack of access to SRH services leads to preventable deaths, particularly among marginalised communities with the least resilience

Mass Migration – Displacement due to economic hardship, conflict, and climate change often leaves migrants with limited access to SRH services. Migrants and refugees are at heightened risk of GBV, unsafe pregnancies, and lack of maternal healthcare in host countries.

Significant Capacity Enhancement – Advancements in digital health, AI, and biotechnology have improved access to SRH services, including self-managed abortion, AI-driven diagnostics, and remote SRH counselling. However, the benefits must be equitably distributed to ensure that all individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, can access these innovations.

Spread of Misinformation and Disinformation – The rapid spread of false information about contraception, abortion, and SRH services undermines public health efforts. Anti-SRHR movements exploit digital platforms to restrict reproductive rights, increase stigma, and mislead individuals seeking accurate healthcare information.

Loss of Privacy – Increased data collection and digital surveillance pose risks to reproductive autonomy, particularly in restrictive environments where accessing abortion or contraceptive services could lead to criminalisation. Breaches in health data security can expose individuals to discrimination and violence.

Growing Mental Health Crisis – Online harassment, cyberbullying, and social stigma disproportionately affect women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and young people seeking SRH services. The digital space can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and reproductive coercion, impacting overall well-being and access to SRH care.

Disruption of Work – Automation and digitalisation are reshaping labour markets, often reinforcing gender inequalities. Women in precarious jobs may struggle to access employer-supported SRH benefits, such as maternity leave and workplace protections for reproductive health needs.

Concentration of Power – A few technology corporations and states control digital health platforms, creating risks of bias, restricted access, and surveillance-driven decision-making. Corporate and political interests may dictate access to SRH services, limiting reproductive choices and reinforcing inequities.

Declining Personal Safety – Rising violence and insecurity exacerbate risks of GBV, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, disproportionately affecting women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalised groups, making access to SRH care even more challenging.

Distrust and Intolerance of Difference – Increasing intolerance can lead to the erosion of rights for women and LGBTQ+ communities, greater criminalisation of reproductive choices, and reduced access to comprehensive sexuality education and inclusive SRH services.

Political Instability – Governments facing instability may deprioritise SRHR, reduce funding for reproductive health programmes, and impose restrictive policies that curtail bodily autonomy and limit access to services such as safe abortion and contraception.

Pressure to Increase Transparency – While transparency can enhance accountability, excessive disclosure requirements for accessing contraception or abortion may lead to stigma, discrimination, and privacy violations, restricting reproductive rights.

Rising Scepticism – Public distrust in medical science fuels resistance to SRH interventions, including vaccines for HPV and HIV, comprehensive sex education, and safe abortion services, further marginalising those in need.

Capacity Mismatch Across Countries – While some countries face ageing populations, others have rapidly growing youth demographics, leading to uneven access to SRH services. This mismatch can strain healthcare systems, leaving vulnerable populations without adequate reproductive healthcare and support.

Youth Unemployment – Economic insecurity among young people limits their access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, increasing risks of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and gender-based violence (GBV). Financial instability may also force individuals into early or forced marriages and transactional sex.

Increased Health Expenditure – Rising healthcare costs may prioritise treatment over prevention, reducing funding for SRH education, contraception, and preventative care. This disproportionately impacts marginalised communities who already struggle to access affordable reproductive healthcare.

Shortage of Essential Services – Overburdened healthcare systems struggle to provide comprehensive SRH services, leading to limited access to contraception, maternity care, and STI prevention and treatment. This disproportionately affects women, young people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Failing Welfare Systems – Weakening social support structures can increase reliance on private healthcare, further marginalising low-income individuals who cannot afford SRH services. This leads to poorer reproductive health outcomes and deepens inequalities in access.

Rise in International Conflict – Armed conflicts exacerbate gender-based violence (GBV), including sexual violence as a weapon of war. Disruptions to healthcare systems limit access to contraception, maternal healthcare, and safe abortion services, disproportionately affecting women and marginalised communities.

Increased Human Rights Abuses – Crackdowns on human rights, with women, LGBTQ+ communities, and other marginalised groups facing heightened discrimination, violence, and legal barriers to reproductive healthcare. Restrictive policies criminalise abortion, limit access to contraception, and curtail bodily autonomy.

Destabilisation of Countries and Regions – Fragile states and weakened institutions struggle to provide essential health services, including SRH care. Reduced funding, healthcare worker shortages, and disrupted supply chains lead to preventable maternal deaths, increased STIs, and unmet contraceptive needs.

Protectionist Policies – Nationalist and isolationist policies may reduce international funding for SRHR programmes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Restrictions on foreign aid can undermine reproductive health initiatives, limiting access to contraceptives, maternal care, and gender-based violence prevention services

Increased Conflict and Civil Unrest – Rising inequality fuels social tensions, often leading to conflict and instability. In such settings, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services are disrupted, gender-based violence (GBV) increases, and reproductive rights are often restricted as governments deprioritise SRH in crisis response efforts.

Asymmetry in Education, Skills, Jobs, and Resources – Unequal access to education and economic opportunities disproportionately affects women and marginalised groups, limiting their ability to make informed reproductive choices. A lack of education on SRH leads to higher rates of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and poor maternal health outcomes, reinforcing cycles of poverty and gender inequality.

169 Years to Close the Economic Participation and Opportunity Gap Between Men and Women – Economic inequality reduces women’s financial autonomy, making it harder to access SRH services, negotiate safer sex, and escape abusive relationships. Without economic independence, reproductive choices remain constrained, further entrenching gender disparities in health and rights.

181 Years to Achieve the Goal of No Extreme Poverty – Persistent poverty limits access to contraception, maternal healthcare, and safe abortion services, disproportionately impacting those in low-income communities. The financial burden of pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare falls hardest on women, often forcing them into exploitative labour or early marriage as a survival strategy.