Over 30 Black-led organizations have come together to call on lawmakers to protect reproductive rights, which they say will improve the lives of Black women and girls across the country.

Groups such as In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Interfaith Voices for Reproductive Justice, and SisterLove Inc. led the creation of the Black Reproductive Justice Policy Agenda, which aims to guide lawmakers in addressing health issues that disproportionately affect Black women and girls.

“Too often, policies are formulated and written into law without a full understanding of how those policies may impact the everyday life of real people,” said In Our Own Voice President and CEO Marcela Howell. “This Black policy agenda presents proactive solutions grounded in a human rights framework and Black feminist theory, which we believe provides a clearer view of the needs of Black communities.”

The term "reproductive justice" was coined by 12 Black women in 1994 who aimed to highlight how Black women and girls experience higher rates of infant and maternal mortality, breast cancer, sexual and intimate partner violence, and HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.

According to the agenda, "Black birthing people face systemic barriers that include racism, sexism, and income inequality that result in lower wages and accumulated wealth." They are "more likely to be uninsured, face greater financial barriers to health care services, and have less access to timely prenatal care"

They also experience higher rates of preventable health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and heart disease. The agenda says this is the result of "substandard care at hospitals, driven by anti-Black racism and discrimination."

"The impact of this structural racism is clearly indicated by findings about what happens when newborn Black babies are cared for by Black doctors," it reads. "When Black babies are treated by Black providers ... their mortality rate, compared to white newborns, is halved."

The agenda recommends establishing a Federal Office of Sexual Health and Reproductive Wellbeing, as well as passing measures that provides maternity care up to one year postpartum. It says funding should also be diverted to programs that "ensure anti-Black racism as well as diversity and cultural competency training for health care and medical professionals."

"Reproductive Justice is a fundamental human right that supports all women, femmes, girls, and gender-expansive individuals, in all their identities, and allows them to make and direct their own sexual and reproductive health decisions," it reads. "To ensure this right, policymakers must recognize and remedy the transgenerational racism, inhumanity, and inequality of access to information, services, and support that has historically endangered — and continues to affect — marginalized women."