As a member of the ASTRA Network, the Reproductive Health Training Center is proud to contribute to and share the latest regional insights published in ASTRA’s Bulletin 1/2026. This edition offers a powerful snapshot of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

At the heart of the bulletin lies the “My Voice, My Choice” initiative, reflecting a complex European reality where policy frameworks exist, yet access to abortion remains deeply unequal. While European-level mechanisms create opportunities, real change continues to depend on national political will.

Across the region, Albania demonstrates how progress often begins through practical steps, such as training healthcare providers and engaging media to reshape public narratives around abortion. In contrast, Armenia illustrates how reproductive rights are increasingly politicized, becoming part of nationalist and far-right discourse.

Encouraging developments emerge in public health, with Croatia and Poland advancing HPV vaccination policies, reinforcing a shift toward prevention. At the same time, humanitarian efforts remain essential, as organizations like HERA XXI support Ukrainian refugees in Georgia with accessible reproductive health information.

In Hungary, civil society organizations are building cross-movement alliances to defend women’s rights ahead of elections, showing that solidarity remains a key strategy in challenging contexts.

The bulletin also highlights the contribution of our organization, where Dr. Rodica Comendant represented the region at IWAC 2026, bringing evidence-based perspectives and regional realities into global discussions.

At the same time, serious challenges persist. In the Republic of Moldova, increasing cases of femicide reveal gaps in protection systems. In Poland, access to legal abortion is undermined by intimidation targeting both patients and healthcare providers.

The bulletin also marks important regional developments, including the inclusion of Centrul FILIA into the ASTRA Network and ongoing advocacy efforts in Romania to expand access to reproductive health services through telemedicine.

From youth engagement and self-defense initiatives to large-scale healthcare reforms in Tajikistan and innovative service delivery models in Transnistria, the bulletin captures a region in motion, where progress and resistance coexist.

Ultimately, this publication is more than a collection of updates. It is a reflection of a region where rights are continuously negotiated, and where civil society remains a driving force for change.

👉 The full bulletin (available in English only) can be accessed here:
https://astra.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ASTRA_bulletin_1.2026.pdf