Center for Reproductive Rights

The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the law to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right that all governments are legally obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill. Since 1992, our attorneys have boldly used legal and human rights tools to create a world where every woman participates with full dignity as an equal member of society. We are the only global legal advocacy organization dedicated to reproductive rights, with expertise in both U.S. constitutional and international human rights law. Our groundbreaking cases before national courts, United Nations committees, and regional human rights bodies have expanded access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control, safe abortion, prenatal and obstetric care, and unbiased information.

We envision a world where every person participates with dignity as an equal member of society, regardless of gender; where every woman is free to decide whether or when to have children and whether to get married; where access to quality reproductive health care is guaranteed; and where every woman can make these decisions free from coercion or discrimination. By 2030, half the world’s population will be living under stronger legal protections for reproductive rights.

Goal One: Apply global strategies for law/policy reform/accountability that build and enforce stronger legal guarantees to reproductive decision-making and access to services, and defend against retrogression.

Goal Two: Provide thought leadership and catalyze networks to build, enforce, and defend reproductive rights, and scale our work via meaningful partnerships to amplify our reach and work towards shared goals.

Goal Three: Secure increased and diversified resources and strengthen our organizational structure, operations, and culture as a fully integrated global organization.

In May 2023, the Center's Executive Team (ET) launched a survey to assess employee satisfaction and identify key staff needs. The team selected a new vendor, Willis Towers Watson, to access benchmark data, ensure confidentiality, and create an inclusive global experience. In September 2023, the ET presented all staff with the survey's results and identified the top three areas determined to have the most potential to improve employees' experience: Senior Leadership, Career Development, and Workload. The Executive Team are working together to ensure they, and all other team leaders, are implementing effective strategies to address the specific needs of their teams and of the Center overall. In addition, specific trainings for managers are being developed by the Center's HR department to ensure that managers are working with their direct reports to ensure they are able to explore opportunities for career development and advancement.

At the end of June 2023, the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer left the Center to prioritize family. While the recruiting team searches for a replacement, our Associate Director of Talent serves as the Interim Director of DEI to ensure that DEI initiatives continue to move forward, which include DEI trainings facilitated by Mandate Molefi (Foundational Training; Microaggressions & Microinequities), and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to improve our sense of belonging and community. At the end of May 2023, when the Center's Chief of Staff left the Center for a new role, the Chief of Staff responsibilities were separated into two positions, which have since been filled: a Director of Board Relations to manage the operations of the Center’s 25-member International Board of Directors, and a Chief of Staff to serve as principal advisor to the Center's President & CEO on all policy, strategy, operational, and team matters.