Ipas LAC

ESP / ENG

transfor mamos

for women and others with childbearing capacity to make reproductive decisions in freedom and enjoyment.

Three women laughing

Ipas Latin America and the Caribbean (Ipas LAC) is a regional nonprofit organization that is part of an international nonprofit network working in the Americas, Africa and Asia.

We work to promote reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception. We firmly believe that all people have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, health and reproduction.

How do we do it?

We work under a comprehensive approach focused on women and other people with gestational capacity.

At Ipas LAC, we understand that safe abortion does not occur in isolation. It is part of a larger environment that we call the “sustainable abortion ecosystem. This ecosystem considers all the factors that influence a person’s ability to access safe abortion: from personal knowledge and power, to community support, to public policy, to the quality of health services.

We work together with organizations, institutions and communities to build an ecosystem that supports every person in their reproductive decisions. This includes ensuring access to contraception, providing accessible and quality health services, and promoting laws that protect the right to health and bodily autonomy.

Our comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach seeks to create an environment where women, girls and others with childbearing capacity can exercise their autonomy, supported by strong health systems and informed, supportive communities. We act from a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to promote the creation of resilient safe abortion ecosystems.

Our theory of change, a transformative vision

At lpas LAC, our Theory of Change is not only a roadmap for action, but a strategic guide to a future where every person can exercise reproductive autonomy to the fullest. With decades of experience and an unwavering commitment, we have designed a roadmap that comprehensively addresses the factors that affect access to reproductive health.

Our theory is based on five key objectives, three of which are externally focused on transforming the environment and two of which are internally focused on strengthening our organization. This multidimensional approach allows us to be effective change agents in a constantly evolving ecosystem. We invite you to learn more about how our Theory of Change is designed to make a profound and lasting impact:

Local work, regional impact

Ipas LAC is actively working in Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua to promote access to safe abortion within a sustainable ecosystem.

In addition, through strategic alliances, we have carried out actions and interventions in other countries in the region, expanding our impact and collaborating to guarantee the reproductive rights of women and people with reproductive capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean. These actions include awareness-raising, training, technical support and policy strengthening activities that contribute to the creation of favorable environments for sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

Some of our achievements in the last 5 years:

women and others with gestational capacity have had access to safe abortion with the support of Ipas LAC.

women and people with childbearing capacity have benefited through the organizations we support.

health professionals receive training from Ipas LAC to improve the quality of safe abortion services

health facilities assisted in the implementation of safe abortion services

of continuous streaming in the longest safe abortion livestream in history

civil society organizations with which we work closely with

We are strengthening access to abortion in Central America, Mexico and South America through our support networks.

In addition, we are the creators of the second most watched safe abortion video in Spanish, reaching:

of reproductions, mainly from Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina and many other countries.

Learn about some of our strategies:

Working with civil society organizations

Every day, civil society organizations (CSOs) provide support to those facing unwanted pregnancies, offer vital information, and ensure that no one is alone in their journey, generating spaces of trust and solidarity, becoming safe havens for those seeking to exercise their right to decide.

For Ipas LAC, strengthening the work of CSOs in the region is fundamental and urgent.

Learn about our work with CSOs

Strengthened health services: Best practice centers

We have more than 20 years of experience working in close collaboration with the Health Systems of the countries where we operate in the region to improve comprehensive abortion and contraceptive care services, respecting the legislation of each country.

Through the Centers for Best Practices (CBP) we seek to close the gap in access to health services, ensuring that each person receives quality and dignified care.

Learn about our CBP strategy

Expanding abortion through the migrant route

During their perilous journey, many women and others with childbearing capacity experience sexual and gender-based violence. Without local connections or knowledge when crossing Mexico, these individuals often have serious sexual and reproductive health needs, but fear deportation if they seek medical care.

Ipas LAC has developed strategies to provide information and options for health care access and care for the population in the context of migration.

Learn about our work with migrant population

Technological innovation in communication for safe abortion

A large part of the population is solving reproductive health information needs from virtual spaces, which are seen as safe and stigma-free spaces.

Get to know Ipas LAC’s innovative strategies: all the products of this technological unit are free, open access and anonymous.

Learn more about this innovative access road

We generate information based on scientific evidence

We contribute to the advancement of the rights agenda in the LAC region by generating and disseminating information based on scientific evidence, which is why we join from the academic and research fields.

About Ipas LAC's research area

Transformation of attitudes and actions on abortion

We believe that attitudes and beliefs can evolve through reflection and learning. Our Values Clarification for Transformation and Action (AVTA) approach creates safe spaces for people to understand the impact of stigma and restrictions on abortion access.

Learn about our AVTA approach

"With medication, I was able to terminate the pregnancy in confidence, accompanied by the people I love and in the place where I felt the safest."

Anonymous user, Mexico

"Ipas LAC already has extensive experience in accompanying, in caring for women...so their support is essential for us. It's our only avenue of support, we have nothing else."

Member of the Network of Central American Women Exiles

"Thanks to the fact that we have participated in different meetings with Ipas LAC, we have had the impetus to continue improving the ways to care for women in advanced stages of gestation and to date we have already attended three successful cases with asystole."

Service provider of a health care unit in Yucatán

At Ipas LAC, we build alliances and work to guarantee the reproductive rights of women and people with childbearing potential, as well as to strengthen access to abortion in Latin America through health services, support networks, and self-management of the procedure.