The Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business is a UNFPA-led global initiative mobilizing the private sector to invest in the sexual and reproductive health and rights of its employees. 

15 May, 2025: Bangkok, Thailand – Advocating for women’s health to be placed at the heart of business, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, officially launched the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business in Asia and the Pacific, today. The global UNFPA initiative brings together forward-thinking companies to drive investments in sexual and reproductive health and rights across workplaces and supply chains – boosting both well-being and bottom lines.

The policy paper Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Private Sector, developed by the Coalition in 2024, introduces the first-ever business metrics for sexual and reproductive health and rights. These include workplace support for menstruation and menopause, family planning benefits, and protection from gender-based violence—factors directly tied to employee wellbeing and business performance. The evidence is clear: companies offering such programmes see measurable returns – including up to 25 per cent reduction in absenteeism and 15 per cent increase in productivity among women employees.

Against today’s growing economic and political uncertainties threatening to strain both public finances and corporate resources, investing in women’s health and rights in the workplace is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic necessity for sustained productivity and stability. 

The Asia-Pacific launch of the Coalition, co-hosted by the UNFPA Asia and the Pacific Regional Office and Organon Thailand, brought together business leaders, global experts, and development partners from across the region to spotlight the business case for investing in sexual and reproductive health and rights in the workplace and across supply chains. Companies that presented their initiatives included IKEA India, John Keells Holdings from Sri Lanka, SM Cares from the Philippines, Shahi Exports India, and TATA Motors India, among other leading businesses.  

“In a region that serves as the engine room of global supply chains, women are essential to economic growth,” said Pio Smith, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

“Yet, barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights limit their full potential. Through this Coalition, we’re creating a platform where business and purpose meet – to empower women, strengthen workforce resilience, and drive lasting social impact.”

The Coalition, first introduced at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2023, has three core objectives to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights in the private sector:

• Advocating for increased corporate investment
• Building accountability through metrics
• Convening companies to chart a roadmap for action

As the region emerges as a global supply chain hub, the Coalition presents an opportunity for companies to lead on equity and innovation, providing a platform for companies to adopt inclusive, family-friendly policies that promote employee wellbeing, reduce absenteeism, and improve retention and productivity.

NOTES TO EDITOR

About UNFPA:

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. We promote gender equality and empower women, girls and young people to take control of their bodies and their futures. We work with partners in more than 150 countries to provide access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services. Our goal is ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal death, and gender-based violence and harmful practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation by 2030.

For more information about the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business: unfpa.org/coalition-reproductive-justice-business 

For more information about UNFPA Asia-Pacific: asiapacific.unfpa.org 

For more information about UNFPA: www.unfpa.org

For interviews and media queries:

Katie Elles, Regional Communications Advisor, UNFPA Asia and the Pacific: elles@unfpa.org