Our Shadow Report to the UN Human Rights Council

In April 2026, a coalition* submitted a Shadow Report, The United States Abridges the Human Right to Bodily Autonomy, to the UN Human Rights Council for the 53rd Session Universal Periodic Review (4th Cycle), United States of America.

View or download the submission below.

Download (PDF, 540KB)

*Coalition members include: World Without Genocide, Compassion & Choices, Genocide Watch, ImPact Coalition on Strengthening International Judicial Institutions, Gender Justice, and Transparenthood.

The United States did not show up for its scheduled Universal Periodic Review in November 2025. Read more.

Bodily Autonomy, Reproductive Rights, and Domestic Violence Rollbacks

2026 U.S. Developments

The following are policy developments and impacts since the report’s submission.

Abortion and Reproductive Care

  • U.S. maternal mortality rate increased 34%. Maternal deaths associated with ectopic pregnancy increased by nearly 50%. Increases are concentrated in states with strict healthcare restrictions.[1]
  • Healthcare providers in states with abortion bans are at ongoing risk of criminal prosecution for emergency obstetric interventions.[2] In Texas this causes delayed care leading to preventable deaths of patients suffering miscarriages.[3]
  • Missouri lawmakers added a ballot initiative for November 2026 asking voters to repeal reproductive freedom protections and replace them with a 12-week abortion ban.[4] Wyoming enacted a law prohibiting abortion after six weeks of gestation.[5]
  • Automated License Plate Reader networks, dominated by Flock Safety, which operates over 120,000 cameras across 49 states, are used by out-of-state law enforcement to track women’s reproductive healthcare travel. Texas law enforcement officers bypass internal restrictions by framing searches under “missing persons” categories.[6] State departments have high-speed highway traffic cameras to monitor cars heading toward out-of-state abortion clinics.[7]
  • Evidence from web search histories, location tags, and messaging platforms are used as evidence in self-managed abortion investigations.[8]
  • Out-of-state medical providers who ship medication abortion directly into ban states are targeted for legal action.[9]

Alternate Methods of Conception

  • Menstrual and IVF cycle data from fertility apps is subpoenaed in state legal actions.[10]
  • Surrogacy: Laws have passed in some states restricting parenting rights for non-biological intended parents[11] and in inter-state surrogacy;[12] restricting citizenship for children born through international arrangements;[13] and Florida has placed extensive screening requirements and contract parameters on surrogacy agencies. [14]
  • IVF: Limits are now placed on embryo storage, testing, and disposal[15] and some medical insurance mandates exclude single parents and same-sex couples from IVF coverage.[16]

Medical Aid in Dying

  • New York’s Medical Aid in Dying Act took effect on August 5, 2026.[17]
  • Some private, religious, and non-profit hospital systems bar clinicians from participating in, discussing, or referring patients for medical aid in dying;[18] some states passed conscience exemption laws allowing pharmacists, hospice workers, and physicians to decline dispensing end-of-life medications with no obligation to refer the patient elsewhere;[19] and investigations into out-of-state prescribing are increasing, with penalties including license revocation and criminal prosecution.[20]

Domestic and Sexual Violence Protections

  • 2,381 females have been killed by a male perpetrator in 2026.[21]
  • Federal grants for transitional housing and emergency shelters were reduced; [22]a federal rule is proposed to terminate existing domestic violence, housing, and sexual assault prevention grant programs without cause or appeal;[23] federal budget proposals outlined over $200 million in grant reductions;[24] plans are initiated to eliminate the Office on Violence Against Women.[25]
  • Changes to Title IX raise the evidentiary standard for sexual assault investigations[26] and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services raised evidence requirements for non-citizen abuse victims seeking protection under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).[27]

Gender-Expansive Issues

  • There have been 14 known homicides of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in the US through mid-2026.[28]
  • Federal changes enable educational institutions to restrict transgender athletes from participating in sports teams designated for their gender identity.[29]
  • The U.S. Department of Education removed federal sex-discrimination protections for gender identity and sexual orientation[30] and the Department of Health and Human Services reduced non-discrimination healthcare protections regarding gender identity.[31]
  • Executive Order 14168 removed mandates recognizing gender identity and directed agencies to restrict sex definitions to biological sex at birth;[32] federal agencies removed demographic data on sexual orientation and gender identity from 360 federal data collections, including health and crime surveys;[33] the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services eliminated “X” gender markers and now mandate biological sex at birth reporting;[34] and the Social Security Administration stopped processing gender marker change updates.[35]
  • The U.S. Office of Personnel Management ended coverage for gender-affirming care for federal and U.S. postal employees;[36] the Department of Defense now bars transgender individuals from serving or enlisting in the military.[37]
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs is phasing out coverage and provision of gender-affirming care across veterans’ healthcare facilities.[38]

References

  1. UnitedHealth Group. (2026, October 5). America’s Health Rankings 10th Health of Women and Children Report. UnitedHealth Group. https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/newsroom/posts/2026/2026-10-05-americas-health-rankings-10th-health-of-women-and-children-report.html; Suozzo, A., & Philip, A. (2026, September 9). Ectopic Pregnancy Deaths Have Nearly Doubled. It’s Worse in States With Abortion Bans. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/ectopic-pregnancy-deaths-doubled-analysis

  2. Ballotpedia. (2026, August 10). Abortion Regulations by State. Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/Abortion_regulations_by_state

  3. Surana, K., & Presser, L. (2026, April 17). Texas Medical Board Disciplines Doctors in Porsha Ngumezi and Nevaeh Crain Cases. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/tmb-disciplines-doctors-ngumezi-crain-cases

  4. Lozier Institute. (2024, October). Abortion on the Ballot in November. Lozier Institute. https://lozierinstitute.org/abortion-on-the-ballot-in-november/

  5. Ballotpedia. (2026, August 10). Abortion Regulations by State. Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/Abortion_regulations_by_state

  6. 404 Media. (2025, October). 404 Media. 404 Media. https://www.404media.co; Maass, D., & Alajaji, R. (2025, October 7). Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. Electronic Frontier Foundation. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it

  7. Maass, D., & Alajaji, R. (2025, October 7). Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. Electronic Frontier Foundation. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it

  8. Lawyers for Good Government. (2026, October). Repro Digest. Lawyers for Good Government. https://www.lawyersforgoodgovernment.org/repro-digest

  9. KFF. (2026, October). Abortion in the U.S. Dashboard. KFF. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-in-the-u-s-dashboard/

  10. Maass, D., & Alajaji, R. (2025, October 7). Flock Safety and Texas Sheriff Claimed License Plate Search Was for a Missing Person. It Was an Abortion Investigation. Electronic Frontier Foundation. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/10/flock-safety-and-texas-sheriff-claimed-license-plate-search-was-missing-person-it

  11. Hatch. (2025, October). Best States for Surrogacy. Hatch. https://www.hatch.us/en/blog/best-states-for-surrogacy

  12. World Fertility Services. (2025, October). Surrogacy Legality Forum. World Fertility Services. https://worldfertilityservices.com/blog/surrogacy-legality-forum/

  13. Business Legal Services. (2026, October 2). New Class Action Challenges Trump’s Latest Birthright Citizenship Order. Business Legal Services. https://bizlegalservices.com/2026/10/02/new-class-action-challenges-trumps-latest-birthright-citizenship-order/

  14. Shining Light Baby. (2025, October). How IVF Laws Could Impact Surrogacy in the United States. Shining Light Baby. https://shininglightbaby.com/surrogacy/how-ivf-laws-could-impact-surrogacy-in-the-united-states/

  15. Shining Light Baby. (2025, October). How IVF Laws Could Impact Surrogacy in the United States. Shining Light Baby. https://shininglightbaby.com/surrogacy/how-ivf-laws-could-impact-surrogacy-in-the-united-states/

  16. Multistate. (2026, April 1). State Fertility Coverage Mandates Expand in 2026 Legislative Sessions: IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology Laws. Multistate. https://www.multistate.us/insider/2026/4/1/state-fertility-coverage-mandates-expand-in-2026-legislative-sessions-ivf-and-assisted-reproductive-technology-laws

  17. New York State Department of Health. (2025, October). Medical Aid in Dying. New York State Department of Health. https://health.ny.gov/health_care/medical_aid_in_dying/

  18. University of Alabama at Birmingham. (2026, April 20). The Right to Die. University of Alabama at Birmingham Human Rights Blog. https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2026/04/20/the-right-to-die/

  19. Encyclopædia Britannica. (2025, October). MAID (Medical Aid in Dying) Debate. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/procon/MAID-medical-aid-in-dying-debate

  20. Compassion & Choices. (2025, October). States Where Medical Aid in Dying Is Authorized. Compassion & Choices. https://compassionandchoices.org/states-where-medical-aid-in-dying-is-authorized/

  21. Violence Policy Center. (2025, October). Nearly Nine Out of 10 Women Murdered by Men Are Killed by Someone They Know and Almost Two-Thirds Die by Gunfire, New Violence Policy Center Study Finds. Violence Policy Center. https://vpc.org/press/nearly-nine-out-of-10-women-murdered-by-men-are-killed-by-someone-they-know-and-almost-two-thirds-die-by-gunfire-new-violence-policy-center-study-finds/

  22. Ms. Magazine. (2026, January 23). Survivor of Domestic Violence: Trump Admin Simultaneously Slashes Housing, VAWA Funds. Ms. Magazine. https://msmagazine.com/2026/01/23/survivor-domestic-violence-trump-admin-simultaneously-slashes-housing-vawa-funds/

  23. The 19th. (2026, July). Domestic Violence Services Rule Federal Funding. The 19th. https://19thnews.org/2026/07/domestic-violence-services-rule-federal-funding/

  24. Ms. Magazine. (2026, January 23). Survivor of Domestic Violence: Trump Admin Simultaneously Slashes Housing, VAWA Funds. Ms. Magazine. https://msmagazine.com/2026/01/23/survivor-domestic-violence-trump-admin-simultaneously-slashes-housing-vawa-funds/

  25. Ms. Magazine. (2026, January 23). Survivor of Domestic Violence: Trump Admin Simultaneously Slashes Housing, VAWA Funds. Ms. Magazine. https://msmagazine.com/2026/01/23/survivor-domestic-violence-trump-admin-simultaneously-slashes-housing-vawa-funds/

  26. Fierros, I., & Martinez, J. (2026, October 6). Title IX Protections Rescinded by U.S. Department of Education. Mustang News. https://mustangnews.net/trump-reinstates-old-title-ix/

  27. Aftalion Law Group. (2025, December). VAWA Rules 2025: What Survivors Must Know. Aftalion Law Group. https://www.aftalionlaw.com/blog/vawa-applications/vawa-rules-2025-what-survivors-must-know/

  28. Trans Lives Matter. (2026). Remembering Our Dead. https://tdor.translivesmatter.info/reports?from=2026-01-01&to=2026-09-30&country=USA&category=all&view=list&filter=

  29. Chalkbeat. (2026, September 29). Education Department Reinstates Trump Title IX Rules From 2020. Chalkbeat. https://www.chalkbeat.org/2026/09/29/education-department-reinstates-trump-title-ix-rules-from-2020/

  30. Teach the Vote. (2025, October). Trump Administration Rescinds Biden Title IX Regulations. Teach the Vote. https://teachthevote.org/Our-Blog/Trump-administration-rescinds-Biden-Title-IX-regulations

  31. KFF. (2025, October). Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions Impacting LGBTQ Health. KFF. https://www.kff.org/lgbtq/overview-of-president-trumps-executive-actions-impacting-lgbtq-health/

  32. KFF. (2025, October). Overview of President Trump’s Executive Actions Impacting LGBTQ Health. KFF. https://www.kff.org/lgbtq/overview-of-president-trumps-executive-actions-impacting-lgbtq-health/

  33. Williams Institute. (2026, February). Federal SOGI Data Collection. UCLA School of Law. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Federal-SOGI-Data-Collection-Feb-2026.pdf

  34. Act for Public Health. (2025, October). Executive Orders Affecting LGBTQ Communities FAQs. Act for Public Health. https://actforpublichealth.org/executive-orders-affecting-lgbtq-communities-faqs/

  35. Act for Public Health. (2025, October). Executive Orders Affecting LGBTQ Communities FAQs. Act for Public Health. https://actforpublichealth.org/executive-orders-affecting-lgbtq-communities-faqs/

  36. Wikipedia. (2025, October). Executive Order 14168. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_14168

  37. Act for Public Health. (2025, October). Executive Orders Affecting LGBTQ Communities FAQs. Act for Public Health. https://actforpublichealth.org/executive-orders-affecting-lgbtq-communities-faqs/

  38. Act for Public Health. (2025, October). Executive Orders Affecting LGBTQ Communities FAQs. Act for Public Health. https://actforpublichealth.org/executive-orders-affecting-lgbtq-communities-faqs/