Report on the 2025 Virginia Reproductive Equity Alliance Summit

Event Summary and Core Objectives

Reproductive justice advocates convened in Charlottesville, Virginia, for the 2025 Virginia Reproductive Equity Alliance (VREA) summit. The event featured a series of panels, workshops, and discussions centered on community justice and collective action. The primary objective was to foster dialogue and build momentum for legislative and social change concerning reproductive equity.

Alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The summit’s agenda and themes directly support several key UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those focused on health, equality, and justice.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The summit’s focus on reproductive justice is intrinsically linked to SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

• The discussions directly address Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• Advocacy for bodily autonomy is a foundational component of achieving comprehensive physical and mental health for all individuals.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

A central theme of the summit was the principle that reproductive rights are fundamental to gender equality, a cornerstone of SDG 5.

1. Bodily Autonomy: As articulated by summit volunteer Nakita Mayfield, the right to “choose what they do with their bodies” is a critical starting point for broader human rights and gender equality.
2. Empowerment: The event’s goal of building momentum for change aligns with Target 5.6, which calls for ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
3. Collective Action: The summit served as a platform for collective action aimed at dismantling systemic barriers that impede the full achievement of gender equality.

SDG 10 and SDG 16: Reduced Inequalities & Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The summit’s emphasis on “community justice” and concerns over legislative actions highlight its relevance to reducing inequalities and strengthening institutional accountability.

• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By advocating for equitable access to reproductive healthcare, the VREA addresses disparities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, thereby contributing to the goal of reducing inequality within and among countries.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The concern that legislative actions could scale back fundamental rights underscores the importance of Target 16.6 (Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels). The summit represents a form of civic engagement aimed at ensuring that institutions are just and protective of human rights.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article’s central theme of “reproductive justice” and “bodily autonomy” is directly linked to health. The right to make decisions about one’s own body is a fundamental aspect of personal health and well-being, specifically concerning reproductive healthcare.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The discussion on “reproductive justice” and the “rights to choose” is a core component of gender equality. Ensuring individuals have control over their reproductive health is critical to empowering women and girls and achieving equality. The article’s focus on “people’s rights to choose what they do with their bodies” highlights a key struggle for gender equality.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article mentions “community justice,” “collective action,” and concerns about “legislation and political avenues” scaling back rights. This connects to the need for just, inclusive, and accountable institutions that protect human rights. The summit itself is an act of civic participation aimed at influencing policy and ensuring justice.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.” The summit’s focus on “reproductive justice” is an advocacy effort to ensure these services are protected and accessible.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.6: “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights…” The statement that “our rights are on the line” and the emphasis on the “rights to choose” directly correspond to this target, which aims to protect and ensure reproductive rights.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The summit, described as a space for “collective action” and “meaningful conversations,” is a form of participatory action by citizens to make the decision-making process more responsive to their concerns about reproductive rights.
   • Target 16.b: “Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.” The fear expressed that legislation might “scale back people’s rights” points to a demand for non-discriminatory laws that protect bodily autonomy and reproductive justice for all.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 5.6:

   • Indicator 5.6.1: “Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care.” The quote from Nakita Mayfield about “people’s rights to choose what they do with their bodies” is a direct reference to the principle measured by this indicator.
   • Indicator 5.6.2: “Number of countries with laws and regulations that guarantee full and equal access to women and men aged 15 years and older to sexual and reproductive health care, information and education.” The concern about “legislation and political avenues” that could “scale back” rights directly relates to the existence and strength of such laws, which this indicator tracks.

2. For Target 16.7:

   • Indicator 16.7.2: “Proportion of population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive…” The very organization of the VREA summit for “collective action” implies that the participants feel the current political and legislative decision-making process is not inclusive or responsive to their needs regarding reproductive justice.

4. Summary Table of Findings

Source: 29news.com