Martha Dimitratou on ‘Art, Care, & Action’ at the UNGA

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/09/30

Martha Dimitratou (she/her), MFA, is the Digital Strategist at Women on Web and PLAN C Pills. She also works in the sexual and reproductive health and rights space in the US and internationally with organizations such as Hesperian Health Guides, The NWHN, and the Period Pills project. She’s active in the digital rights movement.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: On September 20, the Art, Care, & Action: Creating the Future of Reproductive Rights Around the Globe event will be presented at NeueHouse Madison Square in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Why this topic? Why this city? Why the UNGA?

Martha Dimitratou: We’ve been working together collaboratively for a long time. We’ve created a coalition of organizations called the Repro Uncensored. One of the goals of this coalition, which is co-chaired by Amnesty International, is to advocate for the sharing of accurate healthcare and reproductive health information, particularly in the online and digital space.

We’re working to ensure the information shared is accurate, especially when fighting misinformation from big tech companies. We’re also focused on ensuring that people on the ground, whether in small grassroots communities or attending more significant events, like those on the sidelines of the UNGA, have access to the information they need to make decisions about their health, bodies, and futures.

Under this initiative, we’ve been collaborating with the Repro Uncensored and other organizations to find ways to address information suppression. One of our approaches is organizing events. These events not only help counter misinformation but also celebrate the progress we’ve made in reproductive health.

Another goal with Repro Uncensored is to highlight and value the creative process, ensuring we don’t operate within an organizational echo chamber. We want the broader public to have access to the content and information. This is why we collaborate with creatives — these projects are essential to us.

Next week is International Safe Abortion Day, and we thought it would be a fitting opportunity to engage with the U.N. General Assembly. We also organized a project at last year’s UNGA, when we first discussed the Repro Uncensored as a coalition. We officially launched the Commission on the Status of Women in March at the U.N. We have a history with the UNGA.

Additionally, this event is part of a larger project. Two days after this event, I’m flying to Brussels, where we’re hosting another event during an abortion-related conference called FIAPAC. This will occur at a museum and include performances, workshops, and public engagements to make reproductive health accessible to everyone.

Accurate information is crucial because misinformation can lead to severe consequences, like complications from false claims about healthcare options. It also helps to destigmatize abortion care. We aim to bring these topics to mainstream and popular culture.

For all these reasons — International Safe Abortion Day, the UNGA, our mission with the Repro Uncensored and these organizations, and our commitment to working with artists — we decided to organize this event.

There you go. That’s why we’re doing this. 

Jacobsen: The interview will be published afterward. But what is the importance of making sure all these analytics, research, and data are accessible to people who don’t have the expertise, education, time, or even the interest or energy to spend on gathering precise information about these topics?

Dimitratou: Yes, there’s much misinformation. I will only take a little of your time. Still, organizations like Plan C and Women on the Web, which have around 6 million followers, constantly have their content taken down. For instance, as of this month, approximately 80 to 85% of young people in West Africa, based on the latest data, get their preventive health information through TikTok. Young people must have access to accurate information.

Many organizations, including Plan C with their Guide to Pills and Women on the Web, are conducting extensive research. Still, we must find creative ways to make this accessible to younger audiences. They need to understand their options and know where to find accurate healthcare resources. This is especially important now, with the upcoming elections in the U.S. Many people don’t realize that abortion pills are still accessible in certain states, which is what Plan C works on — providing guides on how to access these options, even in highly restrictive contexts. Women on the Web also offers essential services in these areas. With body autonomy and reproductive health at the forefront of political debates, particularly in the U.S. but also globally, it’s more critical than ever to have these discussions. I should also mention Amnesty International, with whom we’re leading a workshop in Portugal in a few weeks, focused on this very issue of research and information. They’re doing an excellent job collecting examples of information suppression and creating a database. It’s not just organizations facing these challenges; individuals, influencers, and small communities also see their accounts taken down, and this suppression is widespread. So, yes, having accurate information and knowing your options is more important than ever.

Jacobsen: Will there be simultaneous presentations, online or in other cities besides New York?

Dimitratou: Yes, we have projects in Pompeii and Brussels at the Musée de la Haute, a fantastic museum that has been incredibly supportive, just two days after the New York event. We’re also working with our colleagues in Senegal, with whom we did a project last month. They’re hosting a series of screenings and projections on reproductive health alongside their major annual event in November. Additionally, we’re planning to have more projections, not only in Europe but also in Berlin, hopefully by Monday. I know I’m a bit all over the place with this. Still, the goal is not only to bring this to New York but also to use the opportunity of the General Assembly to connect with these incredible organizations from around the world. We have participants from India and collaborators from various regions.

I’m saying this with frustration and emotion, but attending conferences like these has been challenging for many of our colleagues. For example, we’ve needed help getting our colleagues to New York. They still have their interview tomorrow. It’s been a complicated process. We’ve faced similar issues with our colleagues from the Congo trying to travel to Brussels. This is why it’s so important to raise awareness about these challenges. We hold these conferences worldwide, and while organizations are invested, we must ensure we bring people who usually need seats. Last year, during the UNGA, we supported our colleagues from Profamilia, a Colombian organization. We got them to New York to join us on the panel. Supporting smaller local partners is essential when discussing Repro Uncensored and what we do. I’m still determining if my colleague can make it to New York; I’ll know by tomorrow after their interview. It’s also been challenging for my colleagues to get a visa for Brussels, so we’ll see if they make it. It would be amazing to have more representation from Africa. I know many countries in the Pacific and Asian regions have faced similar difficulties, as have countries in Latin America. It was challenging when we did our project in Senegal, and getting our colleagues from Rio to come to Senegal was costly. So, while discussing a global coalition, practical barriers must be addressed. I’d love to have more of our colleagues join.

Jacobsen: Another aspect to consider is the historical context. You mentioned last year’s UNGA. How does this presentation compare to previous years?

Dimitratou: I’m excited about this year’s event. Last year, we had a panel discussion with Amnesty International, Profamilia, Vitala Global, and others on content suppression and its impact on reproductive health organizations. We had just started thinking about forming a coalition, but it was still early. For context, the first time we seriously considered creating a coalition was during RightsCon, a prominent digital rights conference. It was held online due to COVID, and that’s when we realized how many reproductive health organizations were facing similar issues.

Dimitratou: Seeing how fast we’ve built an actual coalition since last year is impressive. We did a good job presenting the issues to our colleagues on the sidelines of the UNGA, discussing the challenges we were facing, and opening the floor to suggestions. We can improve, but we took their feedback and came together. We’re hosting this event, which is a significant step forward. It’s happening at NeueHouse, which is a big deal for us. For context, we worked with them in Los Angeles, supporting some events during Frieze. That’s when we decided to do something in New York, and for them to trust us and help us set up this event, as well as the one in Brussels, is very humbling. So, yes, there has been much progress — from just presenting the problems to actively working on solutions. It’s been a clear evolution.

Jacobsen: I recently returned from spending about three and a half weeks in Ukraine, staying about 10 kilometres from the Russian border at one point and travelling through various areas, including Kharkiv. The Beijing Declaration openly states that rape is used as a weapon of war. So, with that recent experience in mind and considering your focus on reproductive rights, I’m wondering: how are war contexts where reproductive rights are severely impacted, represented or discussed in your work? And what about the context of safe abortion in situations where it may not be available, especially in cases of rape?

Dimitratou: Yes, that’s a great question. I don’t have all the answers, but I can share some insights. We work closely with an organization called Martika, a Ukrainian group now based in Poland. They do fantastic work supporting war refugees by providing shelter, abortions, and reproductive healthcare. I’m sure there are many more organizations, and it’s an ongoing area of research and conversation. When we presented at the UNGA last year, we continued to support them throughout the year. I can share some exciting examples of their challenges. For instance, they told us they tried advertising their services on platforms like Facebook, only to have their content rejected and completely blocked. Meanwhile, they would receive targeted ads on how they could become escorts in Poland. It’s unbelievable.

We shared this during our presentation to highlight the intersection of reproductive rights and conflict zones. It’s essential to see if more organizations could connect with us and amplify their work. Martika’s experience is a perfect example of what you’re asking about, and I’ll share everything they’ve shared with us. It’s also fascinating to observe how the news cycle works. Ukraine was a primary focus for a while. Still, Martika struggles to fund themselves every month, even though they do such critical work. It’s a great point and a significant issue we’re trying to address by staying engaged with these contexts as much as possible.

Jacobsen: Are any organizations or countries that participated in previous years but need help this year?

Dimitratou: Sorry, I couldn’t hear you. Could you repeat the question?

Jacobsen: Are there any organizations that participated in prior years but need help this year?

Dimitratou: Oh, I still can’t hear you. Are you asking about organizations that participated in previous years but need help this time?

Dimitratou: Some organizations or countries have participated in prior years but can’t this year. I don’t know who precisely. Our event is a side event, and its success depends on decisions made by the United Nations and embassies, particularly regarding visa approvals. It’s often about what the U.N. and embassies allow and how they expedite visa processes, so it’s hard to say which organizations are finding it more challenging to participate this year.

Jacobsen: What will be the special preview by Feminist and Womanly magazine at the Feminist Film Fest?

Dimitratou: Yes, they’ll be screening a film. I can share more information with you — it’s all available on the website. They’re hosting their first film festival in New York, and they’ll be screening Bone Black: Midwives vs. the South. A discussion will follow the screening. So, this is Feminist’s first film screening. Like Repro Uncensored, they operate in the digital space and do many in-person events and projects to unite people. This is one of those initiatives.

Jacobsen: Has this event, from the 18th to the 22nd, ever lasted this long?

Dimitratou: The event itself in New York is only on the 20th. The broader context includes activations in Senegal and Brussels that are happening these days. Also, with the projection in Berlin, it looks like things will continue until the 23rd. So, while we don’t have an open-door event for five days straight, we have a series of activations around the world during this period to raise awareness about safe reproductive health and abortion access. This project has the potential to grow even further. It doesn’t necessarily have to be centrally organized by us at Repro Uncensored and our partners. Seeing local groups take over and activate in their ways would be amazing. But yes, it’s a series of global activations to your question.

Jacobsen: With the event hosted by Feminist, Amnesty USA, Plan C, Repro Uncensored, Universal Access Project, and Women on Web, I noticed that Human Rights Watch isn’t listed. Why aren’t they involved?

Dimitratou: We don’t have any contact with Human Rights Watch, but I’m sure they would be interested. It’s not that they aren’t willing to work with us — we’ve never had a direct connection with them. Hopefully, they’ll be involved in future iterations of this project.

Jacobsen: That’s a good answer. I’ll reach out to Human Rights Watch. Moving on, there’s been much censorship against activists. This disproportionately affects progressive human rights activists, campaigners, and champions. How has censorship been advanced against individuals involved in your collective work this year?

Dimitratou: Yes, censorship is a big issue, and I’d be happy to connect you with my colleague who has done excellent research on this topic. Her report was published a few weeks ago and featured in The New York Times. It’s been pretty intense. Our organizations have their content taken down regularly.

Dimitratou: Our entire account has been removed, and posts are constantly removed. Even more sneakily, we believe we’re being shadowbanned, which means our posts get less traction, especially those about abortion. It happens all the time. For example, Plan C hasn’t been able to run ads on Google for about three years now, while fake clinics unapologetically spend thousands of dollars on Google ads without facing any consequences. This is highly detrimental, especially for small organizations like ours. We spend much of our resources fighting censorship instead of providing people with the necessary information and care.

The appeals process is long and burdensome; meanwhile, as we’ve discussed, it’s harmful. About 80% of people only click on the first result they find on Google. If that result is a fake clinic with inaccurate information, it can cause actual harm. This also perpetuates the stigma around reproductive health and abortion care. When individuals see that content about Plan C has been taken down, they might assume we did something wrong.

I also want to thank influencers who rely on social media for their livelihoods. It’s equally detrimental to them when their content is taken down, or they don’t get the expected traction. Recently, Plan C and Women on Web published research on Bing. It turns out that Bing, which feeds into search engines like DuckDuckGo, filters out accurate reproductive health information when you search for abortion-related terms. Missing the words makes you more likely to get precise results. It’s as if there’s a deliberate filter to suppress correct healthcare information. This highlights how algorithms aren’t neutral — they’re built and directed by humans, and we need to pressure big tech to understand the importance of reproductive health and protect abortion seekers.

Jacobsen: Why do you think big tech companies are turning women’s bodies into political objects?

Dimitratou: I don’t know if they’re doing it on purpose or if it’s due to not caring enough or having too many stakeholders involved. But yes, political factors often decide abortion access, and our content is taken down because it’s viewed as political rather than healthcare. One thing we advocate for is recognizing that abortion access is healthcare. During the COVID pandemic, platforms added a box directing people to the CDC for accurate information whenever inaccurate health information was shared. Similarly, we believe there are authorities on abortion and abortion pills who should be referenced. They should be in charge of content, not people at big tech companies who might not have the necessary background.

It’s also important to stress that big tech’s content moderation policies often don’t reflect individual countries’ legal and political landscapes. Instead, a blanket policy is applied, which typically mirrors the U.S. context. For example, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, international content related to abortion was taken down, even though it didn’t reflect the laws in countries like Argentina, Mexico, and others. This is something we continue to advocate against.

Jacobsen: Reflecting on these movements’ failures, especially in messaging and activism, what areas can we learn and improve?

Dimitratou: Even when the message is 100% correct, it might need to be delivered more timely, depending on the audience. Sometimes, we find ourselves in echo chambers where everyone already agrees on reproductive policy and abortion access as fundamental human rights. It’s the same audience in the same spaces. It’s so important to reach outside of these spaces. Initially, Repro Uncensored tried to do that, and I know many others do, too. But finding new ways to approach new audiences is something we have only sometimes done as well as we could.

Jacobsen: Who are those audiences you still need to reach as well?

Dimitratou: We often interact with people who are already interested in reproductive rights, partly because of how algorithms work — they show us content from people already engaged in this subject. We need to expand beyond those bubbles.

Dimitratou: I often find myself in physical spaces, so I think this event is essential. I regularly have to tell people that they still have options in all 50 states in the U.S. or that Women on the Web can provide care or support, even in places like Malta or Poland, where the abortion laws are draconian. People don’t know this. Sometimes I think, “How could they not know? Everyone talks about this on social media.” But the reality is, there are still many, many people who don’t have access to this information. Bridging the gap between abortion seekers and the communities that need this information, as well as the research and support we can provide, is crucial.

Jacobsen: What about the Amplifier art giveaway? What will that include?

Dimitratou: They’re delivering it tomorrow morning. Amplifier does fantastic work, creating massive-scale campaigns that are incredibly successful and coherent. Their projects seem perfectly coordinated, and I know much hard work goes into them. They’re generously giving away artwork they’ve created with various artists. I’ll know more once I see it. Still, I hope we can collaborate on more projects with them because they’re such an incredible organization.

Jacobsen: What are the care services like nail art and reiki, and who curated them? I come from a more scientific skeptic community. I wouldn’t necessarily consider reiki “care,” but if it helps people, go for it.

Dimitratou: I understand where you’re coming from. I love working with Autumn, however. She’s an exceptional artist and visionary. She’s been a big advocate for the idea that information is care and that abortion is care. We’ve worked with her to create what she calls a “care house.” For example, we collaborated at South by Southwest, where we had panel discussions on subjects we’re passionate about. We also had a space with care services — nail art, massage, and a tooth gem artist. Autumn is fantastic at creating spaces where people feel connected, in solidarity, and do things they love. She emphasizes the importance of joy, community, and finding each other, which aligns with everything we’ve talked about — bridging the gap between abortion seekers and organizations.

Autumn is doing similar work for NeueHouse, and we’re partnering with her on more projects. She’s been on tour, offering care services across the U.S., including San Francisco and Indianapolis. She’s also doing a big performance in Los Angeles as part of a Brazilian arts event with For Freedoms, where she’ll have a “care machine.” Whether we agree on what it means or not, care is fundamental, and I love that she’s creating these spaces. I also appreciate the inclusion of a democratic, informative element where people can check their voter registration status and register to vote.

Jacobsen: That sounds important. I know you’ve done similar projects with civic engagement.

Dimitratou: We did a project at Frieze in Los Angeles with Know Your House, which focused on civic engagement and access to fundamental human rights. We value highlighting these issues alongside our work on reproductive rights.

Jacobsen: What’s happening with the sound meditation and dance workshop by Mujeres El Vento?

Dimitratou: I wish you were here to see their incredible work. Mujeres El Vento are our partners from Rio de Janeiro. We were introduced to them through our reproductive health partners, who have supported them for a long time. They’re doing amazing things, and we’re excited to collaborate.

Dimitratou: They do incredible work empowering women through ancestral dancing, especially in the favelas of Brazil. We worked with them and brought them to Senegal, where we had a unique cultural exchange. They taught us so much about the body, dance, and community. They’ll be doing a workshop in New York with a great percussionist and one of their founders, who is also our mentor. They are incredible musicians and performers, and it’s always a communal and empowering experience.

Jacobsen: One last question: NHMSU, their community and culture director. What makes this individual important for introducing the program on the 20th?

Dimitratou: She’s the program director of NeueHouse, and we worked with her at Frieze New York. She has been highly supportive of our work, generous with the space, and fully behind our vision. We’re honoured to have her kick off the event and talk about the Know Your House initiative and all the work we’ve been doing. NeueHouse is a big supporter of reproductive health, and we’re excited to have them with us on this adventure.

Jacobsen: This is a global event on an international rights topic. What about opposing perspectives? Who are the groups or individuals that oppose these movements and organizations, and what are their objections to events like this? What would be a diplomatic response to those objections?

Dimitratou: That’s a great question, and I don’t have all the answers. We haven’t received much, if any, direct objection to this specific event. Of course, there are people — whether in legislative spaces or big tech — who create barriers to abortion access. But events like this show that we’ve been able to come together in ways we hadn’t before, mainly due to censorship issues. Big tech taking down our content has made us realize this is a global issue, pushing us to unite. I know, for example, that when we tried to promote our events through Meta, they took it down. That’s been a challenge, but we haven’t faced direct opposition to the event.

Jacobsen: I’d like to quote from the March 18 March 18, 1998 Rights to Sexual and Reproductive Health document by Dr. Carmel Shalev, a CEDAW expert, from the U.N. website. It states, “Failure to acknowledge women’s competence to consent to health care violates their right to equality before the law. Another example of violation of women’s rights to equality before the law relates to procedures for legal abortion.” Any move to make abortion illegal directly contradicts the U.N.’s stance since 1998. I’d argue that any movement against legal abortion is also against women’s fundamental equality before the law.

Dimitratou: That’s a great point, and I’m happy to connect you with the U.N. Foundation, which is hosting the primary event, to see if they have any updated statements. But yes, that’s a fair argument.

Jacobsen: Thanks, that’s about it. Is there anything else to cover?

Dimitratou: I’ll share more details with you later. We have some projections with The Illuminator tonight, and I’ll also share the Brussels project for context. Let me know if you have any other questions. This week has been hectic, but I’ll have more time tomorrow if you need anything else.

Jacobsen: How late will you be working tonight?

Dimitratou: I’ll be up late — probably 2 or 3 AM New York time.

Jacobsen: Oh, that works. I’ll send you a workable draft tonight for review.

Dimitratou: Yes, that sounds good.

Jacobsen: So, that’s how I do interviews — they’re extensive and aim to cover everything. You’re welcome.

Dimitratou: I’m super happy with that. I’ll return to whatever I’m working on and share what I have. Let me know if you have any questions.

Jacobsen: Excellent. Thank you so much. I tried to get my spirits back on track after the delay, but I hope I at least covered some of your questions.

Dimitratou: Excellent. Thank you so much, Martha. Appreciate it.

Jacobsen: Thank you. Have a good afternoon.

Dimitratou: Alright. Bye.

Jacobsen: Bye.

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