In a newly established position, the advocate for abortion rights has expressed her commitment to guaranteeing that all residents and visitors of the state have unfettered access to a comprehensive array of sexual and reproductive healthcare services.             

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has appointed Sapna Khatri, a dedicated advocate for abortion rights, as the Director of the newly inaugurated Reproductive Justice Unit. This unit's primary focus will be to ensure that Massachusetts maintains a leading role in the realm of reproductive justice.

Its objectives encompass expanding and safeguarding access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, addressing disparities in maternal health, combatting the spread of misinformation and disinformation that impedes healthcare access, collaborating across state borders to counter national threats to reproductive healthcare, and steadfastly upholding Massachusetts' robust legal safeguards for reproductive rights. These objectives were articulated in an official press release issued by the attorney general's office.

This announcement comes at a time marked by ongoing legal challenges nationwide concerning access to reproductive healthcare. During the unit's launch on the previous day, Khatri conveyed to the media her dedication to advancing health equity and education. She emphasized the importance of centering community voices and forging partnerships with stakeholders within and outside the state. Khatri expressed her enthusiasm for contributing to Massachusetts as her new home, underscoring her vision for the office, which is to ensure that all Massachusetts residents and visitors have access to the complete spectrum of sexual and reproductive healthcare options, including decisions related to family planning, as reported by The Boston Globe.

In a statement featured in the attorney general's press release, Khatri conveyed her gratitude for the opportunity to lead the unit, highlighting its critical mission in the broader fight for reproductive justice across the nation. She eagerly anticipates using her extensive experience as a reproductive justice advocate to support Attorney General Campbell in this endeavor and collaborate with community organizations, healthcare providers, and legal experts throughout the Commonwealth.

Before assuming this position, Khatri had a track record in the areas of reproductive justice and privacy, as outlined in the press release. Her recent role as a Sears Clinical Teaching Fellow at the University of California Los Angeles saw her launch the institution's inaugural Reproductive Justice Externship Program. Furthermore, she spearheaded the establishment of the nation's first Medical-Legal Partnership at a Planned Parenthood clinic in partnership with the UCLA Law Center on Reproductive Health, Law. Khatri also founded Policy, the Black Health Initiative at Planned Parenthood Inglewood, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. Before joining UCLA, she served as a law fellow in the Women and Reproductive Rights Project at the ACLU of Illinois. She subsequently became the organization's Advocacy and Policy Counsel for privacy, technology, and surveillance matters.

Khatri earned her B.A. cum laude in International Studies and B.J. magna cum laude in Strategic Communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2014. She subsequently obtained her J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, where she distinguished herself as the Managing Editor of the Global Studies Law Review, captained the competitive National Trial Team, and received the prestigious Public Service Student of the Year award for her graduating class.