Gender & Sexuality Justice

Amnesty International USA fights for women’s rights, LGBTQI+ rights, and the rights of all to enjoy their sexual and reproductive rights.

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Last updated on April 3, 2025

Take Action Now

6 Actions

By Time Commitment

  • STOP THE ABORTION BANS AND PROTECT THE RIGHT TO ABORTION CARE

  • URGE CONGRESS TO PROTECT NATIVE WOMEN FROM VIOLENCE

  • ENSURE NATIVE WOMEN’S EQUAL ACCESS TO CARE AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT

  • It’s Long Past Time: End Violence Against Women!

  • Stop The Roll Back On Human Rights In Afghanistan

  • Tell Facebook: Stop Censoring Reproductive Rights Information

What’s the Problem?

All people should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, without exception.  

However, every day, across the globe, people face discrimination and violence because of their sex, gender, or sexuality, or their perceived sex, gender, or sexuality.  

We all have the right to make decisions about our own health, body, sexuality, and reproductive life, without fear, coercion, violence, or discrimination. But, people’s freedom to make these decisions and their ability to access their rights are often controlled by the state, medical professionals, or even their own families.

Women and girls around the world routinely face unequal treatment and violence. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other gender-non-conforming people face stigma and criminalization. 

We all have the right to make decisions about who we are and what we want to do with our lives. Yet all over the world, many are persecuted for making their own choices and many more are prevented from making any choices at all.

Discrimination against women and LGBTQI+ people and the denial of sexual and reproductive rights are rooted in unequal power relationships and the attempt to control people’s bodies and choices.

Why Is It An Issue?

Governments have a legal obligation to protect people from discrimination and violence. 

When governments fail to protect people, Amnesty International is there helping to ensure that all people can live in dignity, safety, and freedom. 

People have very different experiences based on their sex, gender, or sexual orientation– and the fact is that women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people often face discrimination that means they do not have equal access to their rights. Our work encompasses a range of human rights as they relate to the rights of women and girls, LGBTQ+ people, and sexual and reproductive rights for all.

What is the solution?

In order for all of us to participate in our communities and enjoy human rights, we need the ability to live free from discrimination and with full access to our sexual and reproductive rights– and to make decisions about our lives, bodies, and identities without fear.

(Aleksander Kalka/NurPhoto/Getty Images)

Women’s rights

We are committed to a world where everyone can enjoy the full range of their human rights. We can help make that a reality for women and girls all over the world.


(Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images)

Sexual & Reproductive Rights

Whoever you are, wherever you live, you have the right to make choices about your body, health, and sexual life without fear, violence, or discrimination.


(Mike Kemp/In Pictures/Getty Images)

LGBTQI+ Rights

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI*) face threats to their lives in many countries across the globe.