Mexico Hosts Nexus Initiative Retreat to Advance Multilateral Agenda on Sexual and Reproductive Rights

• Mexico has been part of the Nexus Initiative since 2020 and has co-chaired its Coordinating Committee with Germany since 2024
• The meeting brought together representatives from 18 countries who held discussions on the UN80 Initiative and its implications for human rights, particularly sexual and reproductive rights

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the annual Nexus Initiative retreat with representatives from 18 countries: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

The meeting took place from December 3-5 and was opened by Jennifer Feller, Director General of Human Rights and Democracy at the Foreign Ministry; Teresa Ramos, Director General of the National Center for Gender Equity and Sexual and Reproductive Health; Karla Bonilla from the National Population Council; and Susan Papp, director of the Nexus Initiative secretariat.

Nexus is an interregional initiative of like-minded governments created in 2018. The initiative is committed to defending and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and seeks to promote progressive standards in key United Nations forums.

Mexico reiterated its commitment to the international sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda the by promoting it in multilateral forums, and nationally through initiatives such as the National Strategy for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (ENAPEA).

The retreat featured various conferences with experts and specialized officials, including a notable presentation by renowned feminist economist and Indian academic Gita Sen.

Participants held several working sessions on the UN80 Initiative and the implications of the current international context for the sexual and reproductive rights agenda. They also discussed the right to development and debated Nexus members' positioning in multilateral forums such as the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Population and Development.

The meeting also included a dialogue with adolescents and civil society organizations.

The Nexus member states established their annual work plan for 2026, in which Mexico will work with the United Kingdom to lead the Coordinating Committee.

With these actions, Mexico reaffirms the priority it places on an international agenda that recognizes bodily autonomy, substantive equality, and universal access to sexual and reproductive health services as essential components of sustainable development and respect for human rights.