2008 Reproductive Rights Conference

On April 4-6, 2008, over 1,000 conference attendees and 80 speakers came together to form a strong and vibrant community of social change and reproductive health activists. We celebrated our accomplishments and painted a picture for the future of reproductive justice organizing. With youth paving the way, it was clear that only our collaborations and shared efforts will win us success in the fight for reproductive freedom.

Over the weekend, we held over 50 workshops featuring local, national, and international speakers with participants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. The workshops connected reproductive health care to a variety of other issues throughout the world.

• The Art and Activism panel looked at how performance art, visual art, and healing arts serve as both personal and community-based forms of activist expression.
• The International Reproductive Rights Roundtable featured eight panelists from all over the world speaking about strategies and successes for transnational organizing.
• Resisting the Right examined the relationship between the anti-abortion movement in the U.S. and right-wing organizing.
• Climate Justice/Reproductive Justice challenged population control interests within climate change dialogues and looked at solutions based on social, economic, racial, and gender equity.
• Empowering Birth addressed the practices of midwives, doulas and childbirth educators in relation to political pressures and limitations.
• HIV/AIDS: The Urgent Need for Action focused on how to make HIV/AIDS more central to the reproductive justice agenda and the negative impact of U.S. domestic and foreign policies on prevention and treatment.
• Intersex 101 explored the social, legal, and medical issues faced by many intersex people, and the movement to change forced medical intervention for intersex children.
• The Intersection of Disability Rights and Sexual Consciousness looked at the sexual repression of disabled people and how reproductive justice is connected to disability rights.
• War at Home, War Abroad addressed how militarism threatens our health, rights, and lives, and how other activists can help strengthen the anti-war movement.
• TransFeminism explored transgender discourses and gender non-conformity within the third wave feminist movement, and the intellectual and practical experiences of these intersections.
• Women in Prison looked far beyond the statistics at the lived experience of women in prison, and how imprisonment reinforces gender oppression and population control for communities of color.

Other panels addressed immigrant rights, sex worker rights, youth activism, women and globalization, civic engagement, and more. The conference also featured:

• Speaking Out for Reproductive Freedom, which included over 20 activists speaking on the connection of their work to the reproductive justice movement in an upbeat plenary interspersed with performances.
• Breaking Silences: An Abortion Speak Out provided a safe and supportive space for individuals who had had abortions to speak about their diverse experiences.
• Strategic Action Sessions gave participants a chance to dialogue about concrete action plans for the future, and share past successes.
• An open mic evening, a Culture Shock performance and dance party, and exhibition tables provided lively spaces for all.

The energy, passion, and dedication of all speakers and attendees proved that we are an unstoppable force of change.

Please join us next year, on April 3-5, 2009! Save the date!