S. 2671: Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Reproductive Rights Are Human Rights Act of 2025, aims to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The primary goal of the bill is to ensure that reproductive rights are recognized as fundamental human rights in the United States' foreign policy and international assistance framework. Here is a summary of its key provisions:

Reproductive Rights Acknowledgment

The bill asserts that the United States acknowledges reproductive rights as human rights in line with various international conventions, such as:

• The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Outcomes from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development
• Conclusions from the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women

Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

The bill requires updates to the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, specifically to include:

• A section on the status of reproductive rights in each country, detailing policies related to:
• Access to contraception and family planning services
• Healthcare services for pregnancy and childbirth
• Equitable treatment of sexually transmitted infections and reproductive cancers
• Abortion services and the criminalization of certain pregnancy outcomes
• Statistics on pregnancy-related injuries and deaths, particularly those caused by unsafe abortions.
• Discrimination, coercion, and violence faced by women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals in health care settings.
• Disparities in access to reproductive health services based on various demographic factors, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Consultation Requirements

In preparing these reports, the bill mandates that the Secretary of State consult with:

• Representatives from U.S. civil society and multilateral organizations that specialize in sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Local NGOs in countries covered by the reports that focus on these issues.
• Other relevant U.S. government agencies that monitor reproductive health.

Background Context

The bill emphasizes that the removal of reproductive rights subsections from past reports has negatively impacted the global dialogue on human rights. It underscores the critical role of reproductive health services funded by U.S. international assistance programs in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring comprehensive healthcare access for marginalized communities.

Support for International Standards

The legislation aligns U.S. policies with international standards set by the World Health Organization regarding comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion services. The bill also recognizes the harmful impact of reproductive coercion and the need to combat this violation of human rights.

Impact on Marginalized Groups

The bill highlights particular barriers faced by:

• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals in accessing reproductive health services.
• Individuals with disabilities who have historically faced coercive reproductive practices.

It argues that denying access to reproductive health care contributes to broader social and economic inequalities.

Relevant Companies

None found