WMA Statement on the Protection of Reproductive Health Rights of Women and Girls
Adopted by the 76th WMA General Assembly, Porto, Portugal, October 2025
PREAMBLE
The WMA notes with concern that reproductive health[1] is underprioritized in many regions of the world.
The WMA recognizes that access to reproductive health services may be influenced by local moral, cultural and religious beliefs, traditions and practices.
The WMA affirms that such beliefs, traditions and practices should not constitute a barrier to access to health services.
The WMA opposes laws, policies, and juridical practices that unreasonably restrict or criminalize the termination of pregnancy.
The WMA underlines that physicians are responsible for protecting their patients’ privacy and maintaining physician-patient confidentiality.
The sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls are human rights that must be respected to ensure their full development in all spheres of life.
The WMA reaffirms its Statement on medically-indicated termination of pregnancy.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The WMA recommends its constituent members to:
- Address reproductive health in public debate in order to promote greater societal knowledge and understanding of the issues at stake.
- Consider reproductive health as an individual and public health issue in the same way as other health needs.
- Promote universal accessibility, with a focus on affordability to health services, including reproductive health services.
- Oppose criminal and civil penalties for the provision of reproductive health services, including access to contraception.
- Advocate for legal protection for physicians and patients who provide and receive reproductive health services, including contraception.
- Oppose criminal and civil penalties for the provision of voluntary termination of pregnancy and advocate for legal protection for physicians who provide voluntary termination of pregnancy and for their patients.
- Facilitate development of and access to knowledge related to reproductive health.
- Promote health and sexual information and education for girls and women in order to develop adequate and healthy reproductive health.
The WMA recommends physicians to:
- Ensure that patients’ health and well-being are prioritized without discrimination.
- Treat all patients with respect for their autonomy and dignity.
- Ensure that where conflicts of conscience prevent the physician from providing reproductive health services, sufficient information is provided about alternative care givers and timely access to care is ensured for every patient.
- Assist patients with information and products that support their autonomy with regard to family planning.
- In obstetric care, always facilitate safe childbirth and post-partum care.
[1] The term “reproductive health” in this statement includes maternal and neonatal care, contraception, fertility treatments and family planning.