Sexual and reproductive health advocates call for Reproductive Justice in Canada now!
For immediate release
In light of the Supreme Court of the US decision overturning Roe v. Wade, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) advocates in BC join voices across the country to demand reproductive justice throughout Canada.
In their statement, more than 20 organizations are calling on the federal and provincial governments to take real action to improve people’s access to SRH in Canada.
Equity within SRH care includes making contraception free, allowing abortion pills to be sold over the counter, strengthening access to abortion in rural and remote areas, implementing $10 a day childcare, enforcing the Canada Health Act against provinces that fail to provide adequate SRH, implementing comprehensive sexual health education in all Canadian schools, increasing healthcare funding to provinces to expand SRH, and more.
Joyce Arthur, Executive Director of Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada:
“The news that the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade is deeply upsetting. What a profound violation of fundamental human rights! We need to channel our feelings of outrage into action. Let’s stand in solidarity with US activists fighting for reproductive justice, but also take action here at home. How can we help Americans coming to Canada for abortions when we don’t even have enough access ourselves? That’s especially the case for the most marginalized, including Indigenous, transgender, 2SLGBTQI+, immigrant, and youth communities. Now is the time for both BC and the federal government to fund an expansion of SRH and abortion care and train more providers.”
We encourage everyone to reach out to your MLA and MP to ensure that SRH is an issue they are prepared to address and fund.
Sponsoring organizations and campaigns:
- Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
- AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception
- BC Humanist Association
- Options for Sexual Health
- UBC Social Justice Centre
The statement and list of signers is also available here in English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin.
