Blog Series: Global Solidarity for Reproductive Justice – Part 1

Blog Series: Global Solidarity for Reproductive Justice – Part 1

Southern Lessons: How U.S. and Latin American Leaders Are Fighting for Reproductive Freedom

In January 2025, SiX and Women’s Equality Center (WEC) brought together U.S. and Latin American legislators to share insights and strategies in the global fight for reproductive justice. Alongside US state legislators, four Latin American lawmakers–Mexico’s Deputy Patricia Mercado, Deputy Liliana Aguilar Gil, Municipal Union of City Hall Mónica Silva Ruiz, and Argentina’s Senator Guadalupe Tagliaferri–engaged in a week of learning, exchange, and collaboration designed to strengthen their work in defending abortion rights and maternal health.

After traveling from Georgia to Washington, DC, over four days, meeting with reproductive justice leaders, researchers, red and blue state legislators, abortion funds, clinic staff, abortion providers, abortion storytellers, and legal experts, Argentinian Senator Tagliaferri summed up an aspect of the delegation’s learning: “What’s clear to me, is that the American dream does not include women.”

This is the first of a two-part blog series that will give you a behind-the-scenes account of the lessons learned throughout the delegation.

Day 1:

Latin American legislators met with reproductive justice leaders and learned the history of the movement, with an emphasis on addressing systemic issues like poverty, racism, and patriarchy alongside securing legal abortion access. Panelists discussed how southern U.S. states face severe abortion bans, disproportionately impacting Black and Latina women and marginalized communities, increasing maternal mortality, and driving providers away. Southern community-based solutions focus on comprehensive care, filling gaps for underserved populations, and countering misinformation from fake clinics—a strategy now exported to Latin America. Reproductive justice leaders urged global collaboration, proactive policies (e.g., legal protections, access to full-spectrum care, repealing barriers), and cultural change to tackle shared challenges.

After participating in an Atlanta civil rights tour, legislators met with researchers at Emory University’s Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast (RISE). Researchers shared their efforts to address restrictive abortion policies through a focus on research, education, advocacy, and community partnerships. Programs like RISE emphasize evidence-based approaches, addressing structural barriers, stigma, and misinformation. Speakers shared how community-centered principles, such as self-determination and shared knowledge, guide their initiatives to align policy with public beliefs about autonomy and freedom. RISE’s research and advocacy efforts highlight the disproportionate impact of bans, including increased maternal deaths and pregnancy criminalization, while emphasizing the need for global collaboration.

Latin American legislators ended their day discussing insights and strategies on expanding reproductive freedom with Georgia state legislators. Georgia legislators emphasized that they are fighting to expand reproductive freedom beyond Roe, focusing on healthcare access, pregnancy decriminalization, and expanding insurance coverage. In Georgia, a narrow vote passed a restrictive abortion ban in 2019, forcing women to seek care out of state and allowing misinformation to thrive in clinics. While the ban is being litigated in the state, the maternal mortality crisis worsens as oversight committees are dismantled and physician shortages persist. Advocates remain committed to pushing bold legislation, even when success is uncertain, to keep the fight alive.

Legislators from Argentina and Mexico shared strategies from their successful movements—leveraging media, reframing messaging, and countering misinformation. Fear and disinformation now shape conversations in the U.S., with simple yet misleading narratives gaining traction. To shift public perception, legislators discussed refining their messaging, mobilizing younger voices, and creating compelling, accessible narratives that resonate widely.

Day 2

Legislators began the day by visiting Atlanta’s only birth center.  This birth center is the third busiest in the U.S. and one of two operating in Georgia. Most midwives at the birthing center have transfer privileges at Grady Hospital and partner with Morehouse School of Medicine. They provide gynecological care, preconception counseling, and Certified Nurse Midwife services. Initially out-of-network, the birthing center now accepts insurance and Medicaid but faces financial deficits due to low reimbursement rates. Medicaid covers 50-55% of patients, with few cash-pay clients. Staffing is a challenge due to lower wages than hospitals, and philanthropy is essential for sustainability of the center.

Next, legislators met with leaders from ARC Southeast, a regional reproductive justice organization that serves six states, providing direct funding to Feminist Women’s Health Center, practical support, and Plan B kits. They offer travel accompaniment but logistically are challenged to offer childcare – a high need since 65% of abortion clients are parents. Over 80% of callers travel out of state, averaging a drive time of four and a half hours. Speakers encouraged the reproductive freedom movement to think bigger, challenge outdated rules post-Roe, and build cross-movement alliances. Latin American legislators shared lessons to highlight the importance of community-led support and policy enforcement to sustain reproductive rights and care.

Finally, legislators ended their time in Atlanta with a tour of Feminist Women’s Health Center, a reproductive health, rights, and justice organization offering a range of services and programs including abortion care, annual exams, birth control options, emergency contraception, HIV and STI testing and counseling, pregnancy testing, and trans health services. In addition to these essential services, they also offer community programs that engage community members in policy and advocacy efforts, Lifting Latinx Voices Initiative which addresses reproductive and sexual health issues faced by Latinx families through education, outreach, and leadership development.

Stay tuned for the second blog in this series for what the Latin American legislators learned in Washington, DC!

If you’re a state legislator, join the Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council here!