Central America has some of the most restrictive reproductive health laws in the world. In most countries, emergency contraception is banned and women are unable to access comprehensive care, even if their lives are at risk. This legal landscape is compounded by pervasive gender-based violence and high rates of teen pregnancy across the region, where many girls and women face sexual violence that leads to unintended pregnancies. With limited access to care, they are often forced to carry out unwanted pregnancies against their will or to seek clandestine, often unsafe abortions that put their lives at risk.

Grounded in a human rights and gender-sensitive approach, Optio aims to drive structural change that secures lasting autonomy, dignity, and rights for women and girls in Latin America. We collaborate closely with lawyers, institutions, and local grassroots groups to advance women’s reproductive rights by shifting laws and norms while also meeting immediate health and education needs of women and girls across the region.