WHAT WE BELIEVE
The concept of bodily autonomy is central to the Arizona Reproductive Justice Coalition’s vision that Arizonans are entitled to access all resources to live healthy, dignified lives, free from stigma, discrimination, and violence in all forms. Bodily autonomy is a tenet of reproductive justice, a framework to help address intersecting oppressions and center the most marginalized Arizonans to ensure that policies provide protections for the most vulnerable.
The bodies, sexuality, reproduction, and movement of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, women, transgender, gender non-confirming, and queer individuals, immigrants (both documented and undocumented), refugees, disabled people, and youth have historically been subjected to control and policing at a great cost to our human rights and lives.
Reproductive justice is a framework that when used to create policy can help address intersecting oppressions and center the most marginalized Arizonans. Through education and engagement of local policymakers, advocates, and community members, we aim to introduce and promote policies that protect the human rights of Arizonans to maintain personal bodily autonomy, bear children, not bear children, and raise the children we have in thriving communities.
When bodily autonomy is fully realized, Arizonans will be empowered to make meaningful decisions about our health and future, without external influence or coercion, and with the support and resources needed.