SheDecides is a global political movement with community support to promote, provide, protect and enhance the fundamental rights of every girl and woman.
Together, we stand up, speak out; change the rules and unlock resources to create a new normal: where every girl and every woman can decide what happens to her body. Without question.
Read and sign the manifesto here to join the movement.
STAND UP, SPEAK OUT
Already, there are governments, organisations, public figures and individuals across the world who believe that, of course, she should decide. However, there are still far too many who do not take action that respects her right to decide.
We invite you to stand up, to speak out and publicly express your support for SheDecides to create the new normal: where every girl and every woman can decide what happens to her body. Without question.
Everyone can be a part of the effort to raise awareness, to educate and to inspire others to also stand up and speak out.
You can demonstrate your support of SheDecides and the movement in many ways, such as actions like these:
- Announce your support for the movement through a web story and/or press release.
Download a template here.
- Host the manifesto or a SheDecides badge on your website or social media profiles.
Download the graphics here.
-Add to your email signature 'SheDecides. Without Question.'
Download SheDecides email signature here.
- Start a conversation (straight up and simple!)
Download a conversation starter cheat sheet - including 'real talk' with simple terms and stats.
-Tell everybody on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that you believe every girl and every woman should be free by saying #SheDecides
Download social media prompts here.
-Artistic? Illustrators, musicians, producers, filmmakers, animators, performers, poets, writers, painters - and anything else in between - can use art to amplify the message and engage others to realise that yes, She Decides.
-Share information, data, evidence, stories, learnings about what happens when girls and women do decide – and examples of when they are blocked from deciding for themselves.
Got a story to tell? Unfortunately, millions of girls and women are still prevented from making decisions about their bodies – and these stories must be shared for the world to take notice. There are also plenty of tales of courage, progress and success – and these, too, must be amplified to give others hope that they can also achieve change. If you, or someone you know, has a story to tell please do get in touch.
change the rules
When you stand up, speak out – you can help push to change the rules that prevent her from deciding about her body.
Laws, policies and (technical) guidelines and rules need to be right to enable girls and women to decide. Some countries have more progressive laws than others, for example, around safe abortion, sexuality education, contraception and gender-based violence, but good laws do not automatically lead to good implementation. Many people can play a role in getting this right: parliamentarians, ministers and policy-makers.
Every day people and civil society organisations can do their part by calling for change, by supporting policy-makers when they are working on improvements and by keeping a close watch on how laws and policies are actually implemented.
- Write to your local Member of Parliament or community leader to push for change. Download template letter here.
Want to know more about the technical details? Visit the FAQs.
unlock resources
It costs money to ensure that girls and women everywhere have access to the right information and a full range of services, so that they can decide what to do with their bodies. There are also other resources needed: technical resources (like new contraceptives that women can administer themselves) and human resources (like making sure that teachers are well trained to teach girls and boys about sexuality).
Governments can show their commitment to the goals of SheDecides by making sure that the full range of services, information and activities needed for their girls and women are funded in their national budgets.
Donor governments, foundations and private companies should also allocate enough funding to make sure that countries and organisations that are aiming to provide the full range of services and activities are not limited by lack of cash
Individuals, collectives or other groups, small companies and organisations can contribute by donating via Rutgers or can directly support an organisation that advocates for and supports girls and women with a full range of services - especially those who have stood up against the Global Gag Rule and have had their funding cut.
Get inspired by other Friends of SheDecides here.
Download the SheDecides Action Toolkit here.
Download printable version of SheDecides information postcard here
Download SheDecides manifesto (postcard size) here
Download A4 Resource for 2017 AU/EU Summit here
International Day of the Girl - 11 october
Coming up on 11 October, get ready to stand up, speak out to mark the International Day of the Girl Child. Friends of SheDecides are encouraged to seize the moment on social media to magnify the message of the movement. Feel free to use any of these tweets, and download any of the images below for use!
- Without quality sex education & without the power to decide, girls & young women face a world that wastes their potential. Sign our Manifesto to create a new normal, one where SheDecides: https://tinyurl.com/y8p4y5wx #dayofthegirl
- Women & girls who can’t decide about their bodies don’t have the power to engage fully in the economy. Many marry young, have more children and are left reliant on men. Change this, sign our manifesto: https://tinyurl.com/y8p4y5wx #dayofthegirl
- Today, we commit to a world that realises the potential of girls, that gives them the power to decide what they do with their bodies & their futures. Create change, sign our manifesto: https://tinyurl.com/y8p4y5wx #dayofthegirl
- Respecting her rights improves her health, life and future. But it goes beyond her, it benefits her family, community, country & the world. Support her ability to decide, sign our manifesto: https://tinyurl.com/y8p4y5wx #dayofthegirl
International Day of ACTION FOR SAFE ABORTION - 28 SEPTEMBER
STAND UP, SPEAK OUT SO SHE IS FREE TO ACCESS ABORTION SAFELY
28 September marks the International Day of Action for Safe Abortion – a moment when we all must stand up, speak out loudly for her right to decide when, whether and with whom she has children.
The Yes vote in Ireland was a massive moment – bringing hope around the world that we can change the rules, we can shift social norms. It showed how communities – particularly young people – can create real change. The #HomeToVote being especially inspiring, and the 'Sometimes a private matter needs public support' campaign drawing on the new narratives that underpin SheDecides.
And there has also been disappointment. The failure in Argentina, where a vote to legalise abortion failed to pass the Senate, particularly hurt. Hope is not lost: there is a mass movement in the country to drive progress, to ensure SheDecides.
We live in a world where 25 million unsafe abortions take place each year. We must change the rules preventing girls and women from deciding about their own bodies.
Stand up, speak out on social media with the below text and images on this page:
Abortions are either legal, or dangerous. No one else should decide what she does with her body. Only #SheDecides #Sept28
Progress made, progress halted. Yet despite setbacks, abortion movements across the world are gaining ground #Sept28
She should be free to access abortion safely. Without question. Let’s work together to create that world on #sept28 and every other day of the year. #SheDecides
