In the last 15 years, the world has made great strides in recognizing the centrality of women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights to the global struggle to promote development, reduce poverty, and strengthen societies. Through building the capacity of local organizations and leaders and advocating for global policies that recognize the health needs and human rights of women and girls, IWHC has played a pivotal role in that progress.

Our international advocacy has always rested on a firm commitment to human rights and a sound understanding of women’s and girls’ realities, all based on our work with colleagues on the ground in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. We have fostered the development of organizations that provide services and advocate for women and adolescents in their own countries; we have helped link and strengthen these organizations by supporting collaboration and encouraging national and regional networking and have brought the experience and expertise of these local advocates to bear on the global stage.

We have achieved a great deal, but our core challenge has stayed the same: to empower advocates for women’s rights worldwide, and to persuade decision makers that the promotion of women’s health is both a means to an end, and an end in itself. Our current work to achieve this goal has three main areas of focus:

1. Ensuring that U.S. foreign policies have a positive impact on women and young people
2. Defending and advancing international agreements that affect women and young people's health and rights
3. Promoting global and local health policies that recognize the health needs and human rights of women and young people

In the below video, the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) responds to United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki Moon's question: "If you had the opportunity to speak to the world leaders, what would you say?"

IWHC staff and partners from around the world stand up to say: make the health and rights of women and young people a global priority.

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