Paula Avila-Guillen

Ken Paxton’s ‘Shoddy’ Prosecution of a Midwife Is Part of a Strategy to Expand His Power. Low-Income Houstonians Are Paying the Price. Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.

Prosecuting a Latina midwife under Texas’s abortion ban marks a dangerous escalation. As Evy Peña notes, targeting providers serving low-income, Spanish-speaking communities isn’t a coincidence. This is about power and who gets to provide and receive care. bit.ly/40ruGPd

Chile’s Kast Revives Role of Culture Warrior on European Tour Chile’s President-elect José Antonio Kast is cultivating ties with Europe’s far right on a multi-day tour this week, reviving his socially conservative agenda that he had toned down at home during his...

Crucial insight from Catalina Calderón: Engagement between leaders like Kast, Bukele, Orbán and Meloni reflects a shared playbook— and policies framed as efforts to fight crime or restore order could become a Trojan horse to restrict social rights. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

From Youth Diplomacy to Feminism My childhood in Brazil was steeped in French culture. I studied at Catholic French schools, and in my home, we listened to French music and read French poetry. My mother loved to sing La Marseillaise....

A feminist voice with ethics, courage, and memory.
In times of setbacks, we need more stories like this.
Thank you for showing us that resisting is also about building. 💜

revista.drclas.harvard.edu/from-youth-d...

Is Colombia's cocaine Trump's next target after Venezuela? Trump has accused Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, of being in league with the cartels, and suggested the Latin America country could be next.

There are cheaper and easier ways for Trump to interfere in international elections than military action. As I told @USATODAY's Francesca Chambers, Petro’s White House visit will show whether Trump waits for elections—or rushes to keep shaping LATAM politics: bit.ly/49ZhKWI

Trump’s Racism Is Changing Travel for the Worst. Racist and xenophobic, strict visa checks and immigration control are turning airports into places of fear.

In 2026, travel isn’t about leisure — it’s about power. Sweeping, racist travel bans decide who gets to move and who is excluded, largely based on race, religion, and origin. This is how authoritarianism works: through fear and control. bit.ly/3MbeKx9

Trump administration to block foreign aid from those promoting abortion, DEI and gender identity The Trump administration is expanding its ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups supporting abortion services to include assistance going to international and domestic organizations and agencies that prom...

This isn’t policy — it’s cruelty. The Trump administration’s expanded gag rule weaponizes U.S. dollars by denying necessary aid and healthcare to people around the world. Basic human dignity and rights are being sacrificed to serve an extremist agenda. apnews.com/article/trum...

Lessons From Colombia the U.S. Must Learn Before It's Too Late | Opinion Hundreds of masked men in identical khakis and navy jackets moved toward the extremist rally in perfect formation, their boots hitting the pavement in synchronized steps.

Over a year ago, @paolamendoza.bsky.social and I warned that the US was beginning to mirror Colombia, where extremist armed groups intertwined with state power. Now, a leaked database lists the Proud Boys’ founder as an ICE agent. This is exactly what we warned about bit.ly/4jHSJ5v

Every kid deserves the chance to play sports with their friends. On or off the playing field, we all have the same right to equality and dignity.

Our freedom is more than a game. Learn more about our fight for trans student athletes at aclu.org/morethanagame-bpj

Kast, the favorite to win Chile's presidential runoff, could limit abortion access Chile's gradual expansion of abortion access is at risk of a dramatic reversal as far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast, a staunch Catholic who opposes even morning-after contraception, surges toward ...

Chile is facing proposals that could restrict contraception, the morning-after pill, and even the three legal grounds for abortion. These protections save lives—rolling them back would put women and girls at risk: bit.ly/48Q50AM

Defender el derecho al aborto en la era Bukele: “No queremos hacernos las valientes” Una treintena de mujeres tiene un juicio abierto por emergencias obstétricas en El Salvador; al menos a cinco se les aplicó el régimen de excepción, lo que dificulta más aún su defensa

En El Salvador, mujeres siguen siendo condenadas por emergencias obstétricas. El régimen de excepción les niega el debido proceso y pone en riesgo a quienes las defienden. Contarlo es urgente para exigir justicia y frenar estos abusos: bit.ly/4r4HyqI
#OjosEnElSalvador

Pregnant women describe miscarrying and bleeding out while in ICE custody, advocates say The ACLU and other groups are pressing for ICE to identify and release all pregnant women in custody and to stop detaining anyone known to be pregnant, postpartum or nursing.

The reports of pregnant women in ICE custody enduring unimaginable suffering & losing their pregnancies due to neglect & inhumane conditions are horrific. Every woman deserves dignity and care, not cruelty. We must demand justice & accountability NOW. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Is the United States the latest authoritarian regime in the Americas? As the Trump administration continues to make landmark political decisions through executive orders and judicial means, a human rights lawyer examines whether the U.S. has become the latest example of...

I grew up watching authoritarian regimes spread: censorship, criminalization, control of women’s bodies—reducing us to reproduction so we’re not seen as leaders. I now see similar patterns in the U.S. Time to speak out, build community & don’t look away: read the full story: bit.ly/4gUORg6

The 2025 Westchester Power 100 The most influential leaders of the suburban county.

So proud of my husband Andy Aujla for being recognized by City & State @cityandstateny.bsky.social as one of Westchester’s most powerful people! His dedication, hard work, and impact on our community truly inspire me every day.

www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/...

Hundreds of US women charged with pregnancy-related crimes since fall of Roe Study finds prosecutors targeting low-income women mainly in US south – and figure likely to be an undercount

Criminalizing abortion creates a culture where people are policed & punished for being pregnant. Miscarriages, stillbirths - all seen as 'failures' to be blamed & prosecuted. El Salvador's tragic reality has been a warning. Now this is happening in the US! www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

FDA to study abortion pill safety limits, RFK Jr. says New rules around the drug could severely limit access in states with abortion bans.

Restricting mifepristone isn't about protecting women's health, it's about pushing an extreme anti-abortion agenda. With 5M+ users and a 20-year safety record, these attacks are exposed for what they are: a power play to control women's bodies & decisions. www.axios.com/2025/09/25/f...

Mexico’s Abortion Rights Movement Advances Amid Contradictions and Conservative Pushback While more than half of Mexico’s states have decriminalized abortion, contradictions in the penal code and pressure from conservative groups keep women and providers in a climate of fear.

Until abortion care is accessible to all women, everywhere in Mexico, the fight isn't over. Removing abortion from state criminal codes is the next step - eliminating barriers & confusion, ensuring women can make decisions about their own lives & futures. reprorights.substack.com/p/mexicos-ab...

Total abortion ban in Dominican Republic has cost women's lives, social media campaign warns Artists and activists are telling the stories of women who've died from high-risk pregnancies in a push to add exceptions to the ban.

Dominican artists, creators & activists are demanding justice for women & girls whose lives are endangered by the country's total abortion ban. Exceptions for when a woman's life is at risk, non-viable pregnancies, & rape or incest are basic humanity! www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/...

¿Baja natalidad? No nos culpen a las mujeres El año pasado, apenas 445.011 bebés nacieron en Colombia, la cifra más baja desde que se tiene registro.

La baja natalidad no es culpa de las mujeres. Es el resultado directo de los altos costos de vida y sistemas inadecuados. Como dice Catalina Calderón, es urgente repensar el cuidado con licencias justas, educación, salud pública y sistemas de apoyo real: www.elespectador.com/responsabili...

Dominican Republic: New penal code does not guarantee the rights of women and girls The Dominican Republic's new Penal Code perpetuates the total ban on abortion and other discriminatory laws.

The DR’s new penal code condemns women & girls to preventable suffering and death. By keeping the total abortion ban, @luisabinader perpetuates a grave injustice that strips them of their rights & dignity. www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

The People Being Arrested By ICE That No One’s Talking About The Trump administration’s deportation machine is detaining immigrant women at record numbers — and they've become invisible targets.

When women live in fear—of their abuser, of deportation, of losing their kids—they’re easier to silence. ICE isn’t protecting anyone. It’s locking up immigrant women in male facilities, denying care, and criminalizing survival. This is all about control: bit.ly/3UacDtX

Opinion: ICE enforcement terrorizes school communities School district action plans should include protective measures for students, and schools must train all staff on these measures.

This powerful piece by a dear friend exposes the fear and trauma immigrant families are facing—right in our classrooms, our neighborhoods, our lives. No child should have to fear that drop-off at school might be the last time they see their parents. 51st.news/opinion-ice-...

State, local officials seek to ban ICE agents' masks Trump administration says masks are necessary for agents' security during immigration raids.

Immigration enforcement is being used to silence and control women—especially those undocumented. Just like abortion bans and femicide impunity, it’s not about safety. It’s about power. States like CA and NY are stepping up—and here’s why: www.axios.com/2025/07/19/s...

IWMF - Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice in the Americas 2025 The International Women’s Media Foundation is pleased to provide grants to support reporting focused on reproductive rights in Latin America and the Caribbean and the United States. These grants suppo...

Journalists interested in covering stories of reproductive rights in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the U.S. – check out @IWMF's reporting grant supporting projects promoting health, repro rights & justice! Learn more: iwmf.submittable.com/submit/8b124...

Dominican protesters rally against a proposed set of laws on abortion, corruption and rights Dozens of protesters have gathered in front of the Dominican Republic’s congressional building to rally against proposed laws that would uphold an abortion ban, allow discrimination based on sexual or...

The Dominican Republic is rushing a new Penal Code that reinforces a complete abortion ban, forcing girls to give birth, denying women life-saving care, and punishing doctors for helping—all while shielding the powerful from accountability. apnews.com/article/domi...

'I was terrified I was going to die.' Rape victims in Brazil struggle to access legal abortions A Brazilian woman who says she became pregnant after being raped in March should have been granted access to a legal abortion.

Brazil's restrictive abortion laws have deadly consequences: hundreds of women die annually from unsafe abortions, countless others face lifelong health damage, and families are left to pick up the pieces. Read more about the heartbreaking stories: apnews.com/article/braz...

Why We Must Keep Talking About Abortion Pills As part of a delegation to Brazil, I saw how our countries’ respective struggles to maintain and expand reproductive justice are really part of the same fight.

Our fight for reproductive rights knows no borders. The transnational connections we're forging between US and Latin American lawmakers, and reproductive health advocates are the lifeline that will sustain us. Read more about our latest delegation to Brazil: www.thenation.com/article/worl...

Una joven acusada de abortar en Honduras reabre el debate por la despenalización La mujer de 19 años es demandada por el Ministerio Público tras llegar a un hospital por una interrupción del embarazo, supuestamente inducida, en un país que la penaliza en todos los casos

Esta es la realidad de las hondureñas en uno de los países más restrictivos del mundo: una visita a urgencias puede llevarte a la cárcel. Ninguna mujer debe de ser criminalizada por buscar atención médica y la anticoncepción de emergencia debe estar garantizada siempre! elpais.com/america/2025...

“Ninguna mujer se embaraza para abortar”: Gobierno presenta proyecto de aborto hasta las 14 semanas de gestación La ministra de la Mujer, Antonia Orellana, sostuvo que, para el gobierno, las mujeres que abortan “no deben seguir siendo tratadas como criminales ni seguir siendo perseguidas penalmente”.

¡Momento histórico en Chile! El gobierno del Presidente Boric presenta un proyecto de ley para despenalizar el aborto hasta las 14 semanas. Este tipo de liderazgo es un poderoso ejemplo para todos los políticos: estar del lado correcto de la historia! www.cnnchile.com/pais/ninguna...

When Miscarrying Leads to Imprisonment: El Salvador’s Past, Georgia’s Present Georgia's treatment of abortion much like what we've seen in South America.

A new guest editorial from Kwajelyn Jackson of the Feminist Center for Reproductive Liberation and @pauavilg.bsky.social of the Women’s Equality Center. #abortion #elsalvador #georgia #politics
reprorights.substack.com/p/when-misca...

When Miscarrying Leads to Imprisonment: El Salvador’s Past, Georgia’s Present Georgia's treatment of abortion much like what we've seen in South America.

In El Salvador, women are imprisoned for miscarriages—waking up in handcuffs, still bleeding, still grieving. Now, Georgia is following. Abortion bans are turning pregnancy into a crime. @FWHC’s Kwajelyn Jackson and I spoke about grieving under surveillance: reprorights.substack.com/p/when-misca...