Mobilizing Reproductive Health Advocates for Quality Health Care for All: Challenges and Opportunities

Universal healthcare has reemerged as a priority on the national agenda and many states have implemented local initiatives. These initiatives have compelled health care advocates to examine the forthcoming challenges that will arise with the inclusion or exclusion of comprehensive reproductive health services, particularly when negotiating with the powerful interests of religiously-sponsored health systems. In addition, discourse surrounding universal health care has questioned whether or not to include immigrants, raising apprehension around documentation status. In working towards a true universal healthcare model, advocates must seek to include reproductive justice as an essential part of that model. “Reproductive justice” insists that everyone, regardless of race, age, ability, national origin, socio-economic status, religious affiliation, sexuality, or gender identity/expression, has equal rights and access to reproductive health services, and to make informed decisions about whether or not to have children. This includes documented and undocumented immigrants. This is seen as a fundamental human right of an individual to determine their own reproductive destiny and includes the right to timely and appropriate health care, culturally competent and linguistically appropriate health care, and access to the full range of reproductive technology. This panel will describe a vision of health care that meets the needs of diverse women and I will specifically address how advocacy towards universal healthcare can expand and strengthen the movement for reproductive justice and immigrant rights. Challenges and opportunities for women's health advocates will be discussed, as well its impact on strategic coalition building.