Statement in Support of American Racial Justice Movement

As an organization that works to advance gender equality by improving sexual and reproductive health and rights, EngenderHealth stands against racism and all forms of prejudice. We support people and organizations everywhere working for freedom, justice, and equality, and fighting against oppression based on race, gender, sexual orientation, class, ability, age, or other human traits.

We are deeply disturbed by acts of violence against Black people in the United States, especially murders by police officers. While the recent murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have brought renewed international attention, such violence against African Americans is not new, but is deeply woven into American history, culture, and politics.

As an international organization working to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality, our work is designed to address root causes of systemic injustice and support people who are often marginalized, including girls, women, and gender minorities; adolescents and youth; people with disabilities; economically disadvantaged and socially marginalized groups; and rural and other hard-to-reach populations. While our work does not directly address racial injustice in the United States, there are similarities and connections between entrenched power systems the world over, and we stand in solidarity with activists, protesters, and organizations carrying out the challenging work of dismantling systemic racism in America.

We are publicly and privately committed to equity, diversity, and social inclusion. This means we work within our organization to listen, learn, and challenge our own perceptions. We develop and implement policies and practices to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce, and we constantly reflect and evaluate how we can improve on our vision—both internally and externally. In the weeks and months ahead, we will listen to, learn from, and look for opportunities to support the movement for racial justice in the United States.