Abortion, Rights, and Realities: SRHM Calls for Global Evidence on Abortion Rights and Equity

In a world where access to safe abortion continues to be a political and humanitarian flashpoint, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (SRHM) has issued a timely call for papers that could not be more urgent. Titled “The Continuing Fight for Abortion Rights: Taking Stock of the Evidence,” this special collection reflects a renewed global call to action in 2025, recognising abortion not just as a health issue, but as a matter of rights, equity and justice.

In recent years, abortion rights have come under intensified attack—from regressive legal rulings in high-income countries to restricted access in humanitarian emergencies. Meanwhile, misinformation, digital censorship, and funding cuts threaten to undo decades of progress in sexual and reproductive rights. “SRHM remains committed to strengthening the evidence base around abortion rights to drive policies, laws, regulations and service provision worldwide,” the journal states.

This call is not just for academics—SRHM urges submissions that integrate legal analysis, public health research, and activist-led documentation. The focus is on filling crucial knowledge gaps through empirical, interdisciplinary research that supports rights-based advocacy. Topics range from access to abortion in refugee camps and disaster zones to barriers faced by marginalised populations like adolescents, sex workers, and LGBTQ+ individuals and impacts of policy shifts such as the Global Gag Rule.

With over 30 years of abortion-related research to build upon, SRHM recognises that what’s needed now is fresh insight, innovative data collection, and regional relevance. The journal is particularly keen to explore how legal change translates into real-world access and service delivery.

The deadline for submissions is 31 August 2025, with accepted papers published on a rolling basis. Manuscripts will be considered for SRHM’s Open Issue and later collated into a new special collection that will support communications and advocacy efforts globally.

Importantly, SRHM and its publisher Taylor & Francis offer article processing charge (APC) waivers for eligible authors from low- and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. A limited number of additional editorial waivers are also available for those who don’t qualify under standard publisher policies. Authors seeking waivers must submit an abstract and a short case for support by 30 June 2025.

For more details, click here; and to submit your paper, go to the SUBMISSION PORTAL.

At a time when safe abortion is increasingly stigmatised, politicised and policed, this call stands as a global opportunity to link knowledge to action. As SRHM puts it, the goal is “to drive policies, laws, regulations and service provision worldwide.”

With sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) under pressure in many parts of the world—including South Asia—this is more than a publishing opportunity. It is a call to speak up, write back, and ensure access to abortion is recognised for what it truly is: a human right.

Source: SRHM
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