Americas Regional Conference Urged to Uphold Gender Equality Commitments

The sixth session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development is set to take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 18 to 20 August 2026. The conference aims to follow up on the Montevideo Consensus, a significant agreement for guaranteeing the rights of various population groups, including women, girls, and adolescents.

## Background The Montevideo Consensus is a roadmap for the protection of human rights, particularly for women, girls, and adolescents. However, according to Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International, the region is experiencing a relentless wave of attacks on the rights of women, girls, and adolescents. The conference comes amidst growing rhetoric that seeks to discredit decades of progress in gender equality and restrict the work of those who defend such rights.

## Challenges The region is facing significant challenges in upholding gender equality. Adolescent girls are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy rates, which limit their access to education and employment. Migrant women also face barriers in accessing maternal, sexual, and reproductive health due to discrimination associated with their origin and/or legal status. The Girls, Not Mothers campaign has documented the systematic failure of justice, health, and social protection systems to guarantee the rights of girls who are victims of sexual violence.

## Call to Action Lucía Pérez Chabaneau, executive director at Amnesty International Uruguay, emphasized that the prevention of sexual violence, comprehensive sexuality education, access to health services and justice, and the guarantee of comprehensive reparations must be center stage in the conference agenda. Jennie Dador, executive director at Amnesty International Peru, added that the conference must consolidate institutional progress aimed at guaranteeing the rights of women, girls, and adolescents, making gender justice a priority for states.

The conference must also address the increasing restrictions and attacks on feminist organizations, women human rights defenders, and civil society organizations. Women defenders often face gender-specific risks, including threats, surveillance, and criminalization. The continued restrictions on civil society have direct consequences for the implementation of the Montevideo Consensus.

## Conclusion The Regional Conference on Population and Development must send a clear message: every woman, girl, and adolescent must be able to make free and informed decisions regarding their bodies, every woman survivor of violence must have support and protection from the state, and every woman defender must be able to demand justice and equality without fear of reprisals. The conference can be followed online, and Amnesty International will join advocacy, communication, and mobilization actions to demand that states reaffirm and strengthen the Montevideo Consensus in favor of gender equality in the region.