VITAL: Voices to Inspire

The abortion rights landscape has been evolving across the United States and Latin America for decades. In Latin America, the Marea Verde (“Green Wave”) movement that originated in Argentina rapidly spread across the region, catalyzing policy change for women’s autonomy, which led to the legalization of abortion in Argentina (2021), Colombia (2022), and several Mexican states. In the United States, the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022 triggered a wave of state-level restrictions and renewed anti-abortion policy advocacy. Since then, reproductive rights movements and advocates have responded with legal challenges, ballot initiatives, and reform effort, which have met both progress and resistance.

The VITAL project identified key factors shaping abortion policy across the Americas and fostered cross-border learning among advocates, practitioners, activists, and policymakers. Through 45 key informant interviews and three focus groups in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States, we explored what enables or hinders successful abortion rights advocacy, how and why movements collaborate, and how they have responded to policy challenges in their respective contexts. The findings from VITAL highlight actionable lessons and strategies that can inform practical, context-specific, and collaborative approaches to advancing abortion rights and access across the region.

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VITAL Insights for Activists: English | Spanish

VITAL Insights for Donors: English | Spanish

VITAL Insights for Policy Advocates: English | Spanish

VITAL Insights for Reproductive Rights Organizations: English | Spanish