Established in early 2016, the Guttmacher-Lancet Commission on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights developed a comprehensive, evidence-based, bold and actionable agenda for key sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) priorities globally. The Commission brought together 16 experts from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, with multidisciplinary experience in a broad range of SRHR issues. The Commission’s work resulted in a report published in The Lancet in May 2018, along with a number of supporting resources in many languages.
History of the Guttmacher-Lancet Commission
When the concept of a Lancet commission on SRHR was first discussed in 2015, global health and development initiatives over prior decades, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, had addressed important aspects of SRHR. However, they often fell short of covering some critically important elements, such as access to safe abortion care, nondiscrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and adolescent sexuality. To address these and other gaps, the Commission report synthesized existing evidence to articulate a progressive and evidence-based vision for SRHR that is grounded in human rights. By integrating elements that are rarely recognized and addressed in global discussions, the Commission developed a comprehensive definition of SRHR and established a strong and indisputable case that investing in SRHR is essential to sustainable development at all levels.
When the Commission began its work in 2016, remarkable gains on select components of SRHR—contraception, maternal and newborn health, and HIV and AIDS—had been collectively achieved by the wider global health and development community. Yet, coverage and quality of services were uneven both within and across countries, and progress on many other critical interventions was lacking. Since its publication in 2018, the Commission’s report has become an important touchstone for the SRHR community. Its comprehensive definition of SRHR has been adopted by a number of advocates, NGOs, donors and multilateral agencies, and its recommended package of interventions is the foundation for proposals to include SRHR in universal health coverage plans and has been embedded in a number of programs and donor strategies.
Neglected No More—Taking the Commission’s Agenda into the Future
In 2024, the Guttmacher Institute launched Neglected No More, an initiative to advance SRHR globally by focusing attention—and catalyzing policy action—on the components of the Guttmacher-Lancet Commision’s essential package of SRHR interventions that continue to be sidelined, stigmatized and under-financed. The initiative harnesses the Commission’s vision and framework as the global health and development community shapes its agenda for 2030 and beyond. This initiative complements and bolsters other efforts in the SRHR community by drawing on Guttmacher’s unique strengths as a source of actionable evidence, policy analyses and data-driven policy recommendations.
With SRHR increasingly under attack, Neglected No More seeks to push back against regressive policies by advancing a positive, holistic and justice-oriented vision of the future. The initiative aims to expand the constellation of players advocating for SRHR by spotlighting issues that are often overlooked, but impact many people—such as abortion, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, infertility and gender-based violence, among others—and by highlighting the linkages between SRHR and broader global development goals.
In addition, Guttmacher is developing ideas for future research on neglected SRHR interventions and vulnerable populations.
Resources
These resources comprise a package of materials that complement the original Guttmacher-Lancet Commission report, including policy analyses, commentaries, opinion pieces and journal articles that build on the Commission’s recommendations. Select resources are available in multiple languages.
