An update on sexual and reproductive justice advocacy, news, and scholarship from the SRJ Hub at CUNY SPH.
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As we commemorate Women’s History Month, we’re reminded that advocacy is a powerful force for change—especially in the fight for sexual and reproductive justice. From pushing for equitable healthcare to defending bodily autonomy, advocacy has been central to advancing the rights and well-being of women and gender-expansive people. This month, and every month, we honor our scholars and advocates who continue to challenge injustice and reimagine a more just and inclusive future.
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Professor Diana Romero participated in the 2025 Congress of the National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca, Mexico, delivering a presentation entitled “A Snapshot of Reproductive & Sexual Health in the U.S.: Focus on adolescent and Latiné populations.” She provided an overview of the sexual and reproductive health landscape in the context of programs, policy, and epidemiologic trends/changes pre- and post- Dobbs, and the ever-changing developments since President Trump took office.
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Professor Diana Romero is pictured second from the right
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Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Alumni Relations Dr. Lynn Roberts, Dr. Deborah Kaplan, adjunct professor of maternal, child, sexual, and reproductive health, and master’s students Ambrosia Beckford and Isabella Villa Real Seabra attended the Anarcha, Lucy, Betsey Day of Reckoning Conference in Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, from February 27 to March 2. Initiated by artist and activist Michelle Browder, the four-day gathering brought together scholars, activists, healthcare professionals, and community members to honor the legacy of Black midwifery and confront the ongoing Black maternal health crisis.
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A study by CUNY SPH alumna Nina Zadushlivy, Assistant Professor Karmen Williams, and Arizona State University Assistant Professor Rizwana Biviji raises concerns about the privacy and security practices of popular reproductive health apps.
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April 16 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm | In-person & Zoom | RSVP
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Join the CUNY SPH Harlem Health Initiative for a special screening and panel discussion of the film Birthing Justice, in honor of Black Maternal Health Week.
Directed by Monique N. Mathews and featuring executive producers such as Olympic champion Allyson Felix, Birthing Justice captures the experiences and challenges of Black women, their families, caregivers, and advocates. It examines the systemic structures contributing to these disparities and celebrates efforts aimed at transforming the narrative from one of tragedy to hope.
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April 23 | 1pm - 2:30pm | Zoom | RSVP
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Join the SRJ Hub in April for our next SRJ Voices session — a conversation between Terry McGovern, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at CUNY SPH, and New York State Assemblymember and SRJ Hub champion Jessica González-Rojas.
Assemblymember González-Rojas has dedicated her life to fighting for immigrant rights, racial justice, LGBTQ liberation, health care access, labor power, and gender equity while forging connections between various progressive movements.
Dean McGovern is a human rights lawyer and is internationally recognized for her work in sexual and reproductive rights, gender justice, and health law.
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A conversation on global activism with Oriana López Uribe
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CUNY SPH Senior Associate Dean Terry McGovern and Mexican feminist Oriana López Uribe discuss gender justice activism and embracing transnational solidarity and community to strategically resist growing attacks on bodily autonomy, gender, and sexual and reproductive justice.
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From Clinics to Courtrooms: Reflecting on 40 Years of Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Justice
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The most recent session of SRJ Voices, a speaker series presented by the SRJ Hub, was a compelling conversation between Dr. Machelle Allen, Chief Medical Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals, and Terry McGovern, senior associate dean at CUNY SPH, as they reflected on four decades of collaboration in sexual and reproductive justice advocacy. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Diana Romero, professor of community health and social sciences at CUNY SPH.
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WHAT'S BUZZING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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“Globally, the legal status of abortion self-care varies, with self-management often criminalised even in countries like the UK, where abortion access is assumed. Indigenous practices of abortion, rooted in autonomy and community, stand in stark contrast to these state-imposed controls.”
A decolonized approach to maternal care calls for shifting power to local communities, integrating traditional practices, and recognizing reproductive self-determination as a fundamental right. In BMJ Global Health, Dr. Sabrina Das, Harkness Fellow at CUNY SPH, explores the need for culturally safe, self-managed reproductive healthcare.
🔗 Read the full article at the link in our bio.
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By supporting CUNY SPH's Byllye Avery Endowed Professorship in Sexual and Reproductive Justice, you will help establish programming, research, scholarship, and advocacy training in sexual and reproductive justice to empower and develop the next generation of public health leaders.
Learn more about this exciting new professorship.
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COPYRIGHT © 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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