New York Times: Melinda Gates: Eliminating Bias in Family Planning Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “…As the largest generation in history enters its reproductive years, the evidence tells us that bias is one of the biggest barriers standing between these 1.8 billion young people and…

The Guardian: The Guardian view on Argentina and abortion: a setback, but not the end Editorial Board “The Argentinian senate’s rejection of a bill legalizing abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy is a cruel disappointment for millions of its citizens. … According to the World Health Organization, 25…

BBC News: China hints at three-child policy with ‘happy family’ stamps “Postage stamps unveiled earlier this week to mark the incoming Year of the Pig in February 2019 have led many social media users to question whether a loosening of family planning restrictions could be imminent. The stamps show a…

The Guardian: Latin America’s fight to legalize abortion: the key battlegrounds “An estimated 6.5 million abortions take place across Latin America each year. Three-quarters of these procedures are unlawful, often performed in unsafe illegal clinics or at home. Of 33 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, only Cuba, Uruguay,…

FIGO: Empowering Africa’s young women Jennifer Crago, director of communications, advocacy, and publications at FIGO, discusses the importance of investing in adolescent health in Africa. Crago writes, “Young people are sub-Saharan Africa’s greatest asset, but it is only through investing in their lives, including in their sexual and reproductive health…

Inter Press Service: The Legalization of Abortion in Argentina will Benefit Thousands of Women Nelly Minyersky, lawyer and family law specialist, writing for Amnesty International “…[In Argentina,] criminalization of abortion (Art. 86 of the Criminal Code of the Nation) constitutes a flagrant violation of a plethora of rights that are…

CNN: Scourge of superbugs killing Malawi’s babies (Davies, 8/8). CNN: Faced with falling birth rates, China urges citizens to have more babies (Griffiths/Wang, 8/8). Devex: Challenges facing SDG 2030 deadline for safe water and sanitation (Cornish, 8/9). Reuters: Nigeria approves $150 mln World Bank loan to fight polio (Onuah/Ohuocha, 8/8).…

The Guardian: Argentina senate rejects bill to legalize abortion “Argentina’s senate has rejected a bill to legalize abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Lawmakers debated for more than 15 hours and voted 38 against to 31 in favor, despite the fact opinion polls showed the bill had strong…

The Guardian: Argentina holds historic abortion vote as 1m women rally to demand change “…On Wednesday, the debate [over abortion in Argentina] comes to a climax when the country’s senate votes on a law decriminalizing abortion in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. If approved, Argentina would become the largest…

UNFPA: Exile wreaks havoc on refugees’ sexual and reproductive health “Refugee women and girls face extraordinary hardships. They endure grave risks and often brutal violence, and many are thrust into poverty. But they can also face another, more intimate, hardship, one that is seldom discussed — the effects of exile…