On the 2nd of May, the magazine Politico broke the story that the Supreme Court of the United States of America had drafted a vote to overturn US-wide abortion rights. The right to abortion was written into US law after the landmark case Roe vs Wade in 1973, a ruling that current Supreme Court Justices
Abortion is the voluntary ending of a pregnancy, either medically or surgically. An abortion qualifies as ‘safe’ when it is carried out by a WHO-recommended method and appropriate to the duration of the pregnancy. When people with uteruses are denied access to safe abortions, they often resort to unsafe means to end their unwanted pregnancies.
The topic of abortions is a focal point in feminist theories. Misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misinformation surround abortions, leading to stigma, shame, and even fear. Myths are formed by historical and social factors and are deeply interwoven with issues of intersectional women’s rights. We believe that an understanding of where these abortion myths come from, and
Many women who have had an abortion or plan to get one wonder how an abortion may affect their ability to conceive and have healthy pregnancies in the future. These are incredibly common and normal questions to have when making such an important decision regarding your health. However, the stigma and lack of education surrounding
Abortion has been a popular topic of discussion among policymakers around the world. Medical abortions have continuously proven to be highly safe and effective. In fact, it has a success rate of over 95%, and less than 0.4% of patients have serious complications. Even though the use of mifepristone was first legalized in France and
abortion stigma Abortion is a standard medical procedure practised worldwide, and even then, it is still highly stigmatised in many societies. The stigmatisation of abortion has been a significant factor in increasing the number of unsafe abortions globally. According to the World Health Organisation, 30 women die for every 100,000 unsafe abortions. These statistics are
What is Misoprostol and what is it used for? Misoprostol is in a class of medication called prostaglandins and is used for a variety of indications in the practice of obstetrics and gynecology. These include abortion, medical management of miscarriage, induction of labor, cervical ripening before a surgical procedure, and the treatment of postpartum bleeding
By Marie-Simone Kadurira Nestled in the middle of Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, lies the country of Botswana, a country characterized by the nomadic history of its people and rapid development thereafter. A former protectorate of British Rule, the country adopted similar legislative practices as its southern African counterparts, including the Termination of Pregnancy Act.
By safe2choose Like many countries in Southern and East Africa, abortion legality in the context of Zambia is quite stringent. Unlike many of its neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe and Angola, Zambia has a more liberal abortion legislation. It also has a a unique stipulation [1] that allows for abortion upon request. As is evident
By Marie-Simone Kadurira In the past year, we released the story of Lizette; a story of strength that shed light on what it means to have an abortion. Her story details how she chose to have an abortion when she and her partner were not ready to have a child and care for them in
For years, abortion has been a controversial topic, politicized to the point where women’s bodies have become a battleground for policymakers. In a world where most people consider motherhood something to be revered, the idea of terminating a pregnancy and rejecting motherhood is taboo as pregnant people are expected to give unconditional love to their
In Colombia, feminist activists’ call for abortion rights went mainstream over the last two years, as their counterparts won big in neighboring countries.Colombia recently joined Mexico and Argentina as countries in Latin America who knocked down the restrictive barriers to abortion. This would have been nearly impossible without the important work of activists in the
From a medical perspective there are no major differences between a medical, a surgical and a spontaneous abortion because when complications arise the symptoms are fairly similar. So how does one know they are experiencing abnormal post abortion symptoms? Is access to safe abortion the only step in successful termination? As hard as it is
In recent years, we have seen a rise in uprisings pertaining to the rights of LGBTQ identifying individuals across the globe, and Africa has exhibited similar trends. There has been an increasing demand for access to numerous services from the community, especially within the realm of healthcare. Alongside this push has also been the rise
Nearly 15.6 million abortions take place in India every year [1]. In a study published by The Lancet in 2015, 73% of the estimated abortions happen by medical abortion, with 16% taking place in private healthcare facilities and 6% in public facilities. The remaining 5%are conducted through traditional and relatively unsafe methods. How the Pandemic
By B.Okeyo When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and women’s reproductive health, so much conflicting information is out there; however, none of it seems conclusive. Additionally, as the vaccines have only just been developed, there is a lack of empirical research to support some claims that are being purported. From history, we know that when
By Rathi R. Abortion is illegal and governed by the penal code, Act XLV, in Bangladesh. The law, implemented on October 6, 1860, is a colonial relic of the English Common Law, which the British brought to the Indian subcontinent. Even though England changed its laws in 1967, abortions in Bangladesh remain unrecognized to date
Ada’s abortion journey Take a journey with Ada to discover her story. Like many people, she has just found out that she is pregnant, but she cannot afford to raise another child. She has decided to have an abortion. What will her options be, and what will she choose? Take a couple of minutes today
Depictions of abortion in movies and TV series often get it wrong. When they are not portraying abortion unrealistically or sensationally, on-screen portrayals also often lack sufficient narrative complexity, thereby reducing an otherwise complex issue to a number of predictable banalities. In Hollywood, for example, there has been a notable tendency to exaggerate the medical
For Immediate Release Contact: communications@safe2choose.org safe2choose.org and Ipas CAM have co-authored an International Survey Report aimed at understanding the stress, stigma, violence, and discrimination faced by Abortion Providers and Companions because of their job. safe2choose and Ipas have co-authored an International Survey Report of abortion providers and companions in order to highlight the experiences of
More often than not, the discourse on abortion tends to center the experiences of the women who seek abortions. Without a doubt, the focus placed on these women is with good reason. After all, the social stigma they face from their communities when seeking to exercise agency over their own bodies is significant. In some
By Belinda Munyeza. Abortion – whether it is performed medically, such as with the pill (1) or clinically, such as with vacuum aspiration (2) – is a procedure that you need time and care to recover from. While both medical and clinical abortions are generally safe when performed by/under the guidance of a qualified practitioner,
By Belinda Munyeza. Worldwide, abortions have progressively become safer since the 1990s due to improved clinical facilities and protocols being made available to women seeking abortions (1). Even in regions with restrictive laws and where clandestine abortions are prevalent, abortions have become safer due to increased access to less invasive methods, such as the use
By Kylie Kiunguyu. More often than not we discuss the illegality of abortion as the main limitation towards receiving comprehensive reproductive health care, but there are other obstacles that limit abortion access, for example, what is observed in countries such as Cambodia. Although it has one of the more liberal abortion laws, women on the
Many myths around sexual and reproductive health following an abortion continue to pervade society. Safe abortions come with very few complications; you can learn more about your general sexual health after an abortion here: By Belinda Munyeza. Women seeking abortion services have many worries around complications that may arise following the procedure, particularly pertaining to
Every woman has the right to make decisions freely and responsibly, without discrimination, coercion, or violence. The number, spacing, and timing of children, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health, should be solely dependent on each woman’s wishes. This short piece seeks to advocate for women and girls in
By Angela Ngugi. Almost every time I discuss abortion with a cis-man, they happen to be operating under the delusion that the decision is ultimately theirs. It is almost comical how men will sit on round tables and discuss our existence as an extension of themselves, how they center themselves in debates concerning women’s bodies
Many women seek out abortions more than once in their lifetime, and we ought to speak more about this occurrence. Read more about why it is important to speak about abortions in the plural here: By Belinda Munyeza. Let us normalise abortions because let’s face it, many people have more than one In 2007, The
By Kylie Kiunguyu Myth 1: All abortions are voluntary or planned. Fact: The term abortion is actually a medical term used to describe the end of a pregnancy, regardless of how it happens. What many people think of when abortion is being discussed is elective or voluntary abortion, which is performed at the woman’s request
By Kylie Kiunguyu. What it means to be pro-choice The term pro-choice simply means that a person believes that all human beings should have the essential right to decide what they do with their body and when, with whom, and how they reproduce. It is a term that means that even though you may not
By Belinda Munyeza. Over the last few decades, global abortion laws have changed, with the world at large seeing an increase in the liberalization of abortion laws. According to the Council on Foreign Relations (2019), there are only six countries in the world now that do not permit abortions under any circumstances. However, in more
By Belinda Munyeza. In many parts of the world, laws on some level restrict abortions. This has affected the accuracy of abortion statistics recorded world-wide. In some countries, because of restrictions imposed by abortion laws, this limits the collection of abortion data itself. But even in countries that receive frequent data from abortion clinics on
By Belinda Munyeza. Abortion costs (as well as accessibility to information about them) vary across Africa depending on the region and the legal restrictions set in place. In Southern Africa—South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola—legal medical and in-clinic abortions cost between US$20 and US$380. Illegal procedures cost much less to perform initially
We all deserve comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Healthcare, including access to abortions and post-abortion care. Not only is overall care a reproductive right, but it is also a fundamental right. By Kylie Kiunguyu Rights and freedoms are inseparable Rights and freedoms are interlinked; you cannot give a woman access to partial reproductive healthcare if she is
By Dineo Mokwena Once a woman has decided to have an abortion, the process should not be challenging. Unfortunately, because of stigma, restrictive legislation, and limited resources, finding a safe abortion clinic is not an effortless task. It is important to know what to look for when seeking safe abortion services in South Africa, as
By Belinda Munyeza. Abortion law in India dates back to the 1800s. The first definitive law regarding the legality of termination in the country was implemented in 1898. Since then, some changes have been made to Indian abortion law, the most notable being the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, introduced in 1971. This law, however,
The difference between a successful and an unsuccessful abortionl age when deciding on which abortion method can make the difference between a successful abortion procedure and an unsuccessful abortion. By Marie- Simone Often, trimesters and the different gestational ages come up during discussions about pregnancy expectations, but equally important is the conversation surrounding the different
By Marie – Simone. Similar to many countries in the region, and the world, the conversation surrounding abortion in Zimbabwe has often lived beneath the surface. Strict legislation, coupled with cultural beliefs that project the concept of purity onto women, means that when abortion is brought up, it is often in relation to a backstreet
By Saabira 30-year-old Saabira is one of the safe2choose counselors and is based in India. Her everyday life includes talking to women through their abortions and guiding them to make informed choices about their bodies. Although abortion is legal in India, she – like many abortion counselors – deals with moments where she feels judged
“Stigma feeds silence, and silence feeds myths. Myths that misinform, mislead, and further stigmatize. It’s a vicious and harmful circle that we need to break” [1]. Anyone seeking safe abortion counseling and information about medical and surgical abortion can access these services free of charge on safe2choose.org. Our team of female counselors is here to
For safe2choose, in collaboration with Find My Method In collaboration with our sister platform, Find My Method, in the next few months, we will be posting pieces that speak to the intersectionality between abortion and contraceptives. We hope to contextualise access to contraceptives as they pertain to abortion rights, in a bid to highlight the
Do We Need Abortion Laws? Do we need abortion laws? A controversial question, yes, so before asking us that, we should go back to basics and answer the following: what is abortion? Abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy for different reasons. It is estimated that 1 in 4 pregnancies worldwide end in
“ANYONE WHO DECIDES TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY DESERVES THE SAME CARE AS ANYONE WHO DECIDES AND WISHES TO GIVE BIRTH.” [1] By the safe2choose counseling team Anyone seeking safe abortion counseling and information about how to take care of themselves after an in-clinic abortion – such as a Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) – can access
Unintended pregnancies are common in Nigeria and a significant number end up in induced abortions. Many women opt for quick, secretive, and mostly, unsafe methods to induce abortion. The Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Nigeria estimates that about 20,000 Nigerian women die from unsafe abortions each year. In 2012, the Guttmacher Institute estimated that
safe2choose is about safe choices, but it’s also about the most appropriate safe method that fits each woman’s individual needs and wishes. This means being able to offer its global users a wide range of safe options for their abortions. Some might prefer using the medical abortion pills in the intimacy of their home, while
by Hesperian and safe2choose The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted all aspects of our lives and limited our access to health care globally. This has been especially harmful for women and girls seeking safe abortions. Lockdown measures prevent women from leaving their homes to access the safe abortion information and services essential to their health. Restrictive
By the safe2choose team Abortion at home — also known as medication abortion, medical abortion, or self-managed abortion — is getting more and more popular among women who desire to end their pregnancy. The procedure is non-invasive, doesn’t require surgery, and can be carried out wherever they feel comfortable and safe. To throw some light
By safe2choose counseling team. Following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, healthcare and reproductive service providers around the world are fighting to maintain abortion as an essential healthcare service and making sure that access to abortion services and information is not compromised. At safe2choose, we continue to provide accurate information about safe abortion via email and live
By safe2choose team Following the coronavirus disease (COVID19) outbreak, countries have taken several steps to ensure the safety of their citizens. As these measures take effect, it is important that access to abortion services and information is not compromised. With many countries going into lock down and calls for people to stay at home in
safe2choose Team The #MarchForEqualChoice campaign brings together organisations around the 8th of March to advocate for access to safe abortion services and information for all safe2choose, Hesperian and Ipas joined forces to conduct this year’s International Women’s Day Campaign dubbed #MarchForEqualChoice. The campaign will run from March 1 to March 9 2020. Inspired by the
By the safe2choose team 2019 has been a year of action for us at safe2choose. We used both online and offline means to reach women and girls with messages on safe abortion. Offline, we participated in conferences across the world. Online, we not only had daily updates but also carried out digital campaigns. Our efforts
Media has a critical role to play in ending abortion stigma. By framing messages in a stigmatising language, media are often perpetuating myths and stereotypes that can contribute to abortion stigma. In June 2019, the High Court of Kenya declared the withdrawal of the Standards and Guidelines for Reducing Morbidity and Mortality from Unsafe abortion
What is HowToUseAbortionPill.org’s role in the promotion of safe abortion? We share information and resources for safe medical abortion in 24 languages. We explain how medical abortion works, the names of the pills and how to use them safely, what to consider before having a medical abortion, and what to expect afterwards. We also offer
By Michell Mor Do you know there are women who are childless by choice? Despite common misconception, there are women out there who, for whatever reason, do not want to get pregnant, carry a pregnancy to term, give birth and raise a child; women that might choose to have an abortion. Women who choose to
By Pauline Diaz Around the world, pregnant girls are banned from schools In June 2017, president John Magufuli of Tanzania created a blast wave in the international development sphere by saying: “As long as I am president … no pregnant student will be allowed to return to school … After getting pregnant, you are done.”
There has been a substantial amount of media coverage across the United Kingdom on the issues surrounding outdated human rights laws in Northern Ireland. These issues have gained increasing scrutiny as a result of the partnership between the Conservative Party and the DUP or Democratic Unionist Party, the leading political party in Northern Ireland. Undoubtedly,
Author’s introduction:Dr Sana Durvesh has been working in Pakistan’s development sector since 2008 and has a wealth of experience in both clinical work and public health programming. A medical doctor by profession, she is currently working as Senior Program Manager at Pakistan’s largest social franchise, Greenstar Social Marketing. She is responsible for Government and International
This week, HowToUse and safe2choose are joining forces alongside global leaders in reproductive rights for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. And make no mistake: the systemic denial of a pregnant person’s right to a safe abortion is a leading driver behind global rates of maternal mortality. But the 16 Days of Activism
By Bora Chung Not too long ago, South Korea used to have government-sanctioned “abortion buses” running in the countryside. In rural areas with no ready access to abortion clinics, they would provide women with the required support to interrupt a pregnancy. It was during the 1960s and 1970s, when abortion was considered a normal way
November 25th marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. On December 10th the world celebrates Human Rights Day. Women’s rights advocates have leveraged the power of those two neighboring dates to create the 16 Days of Activism, an international campaign to put an end to the violence that women and girls
Originally posted by Catholics For Choice. November 7, 2018 His Holiness, Pope Francis Apostolic Palace 00120 Vatican City Dear Pope Francis, As abortion providers and organizations that advocate for a woman’s right to choose, we were disturbed by your comments comparing a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body to “resorting to a
This year, we celebrate 15 years of the Maputo Protocol’s enactment. Officially called Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, it remains “the main legal instrument for the protection of the rights of women and girls in Africa”. The text calls on all countries to
Originally posted at the BBC News site on June 6, 2018. Global online searches for abortion pills have more than doubled over the last decade, BBC analysis of Google searches shows. The findings also suggest that in countries where abortion laws are more restrictive, there is greater search interest in abortion pills. By buying pills
Posted by Victoria Yu-Texas on July 16th, 2018 at futurity.org A new study reveals the motivations and experiences of women seeking abortion medication online. The practice can be a response to clinic access barriers in states with and without restrictive abortion laws, or can occur when self-managed abortion is preferred over clinical care, researchers say. Researchers learned that online
safe2choose hereby would like to advise you that, effective 1st July 2018, we no longer will be directly shipping safe abortion pills. At the same time, safe2choose is proud to announce that we will be working with various groups and partners to ensure that women continue to have access to high quality products. safe2choose is
Abortion providers have been recognized by the United Nations as Human Rights defenders. They are the ones who ensure that our Sexual and reproductive health and rights are respected, even at the hardest times and places. As a result, providers are exposed to the same stigma that affects those who decide to interrupt a pregnancy,
Illustration: Angelica Alzona (Gizmodo) A woman contacted Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi’s team on a Friday afternoon, nine weeks and three days into an unwanted pregnancy. Although she butted right up against the Food and Drug Administration’s 10-week regulatory deadline, the patient wanted a medication abortion—a difficult request to satisfy on any doctor’s busy schedule, but especially
Ireland is getting ready to decide whether or not abortion should be allowed in the country, at a national referendum on May 25th. Voters are expected to say Yes or No to repeal the eighth amendment of the Irish Constitution. The law states that both mother and “unborn child” have the equal right to life.
Sex is a reality, and we are proud to be sex-positive. As long as people are engaging in consensual experiences, safe2choose encourages and supports it. We do so by sharing accurate and stigma-free information, as well as facilitating access to safe abortion methods. True autonomy comes with deep understanding of your options, your risks and
Proposed “Stop Abortion” Bill Continues Roll Back on Reproductive Rights Poland’s Parliament should listen to the voices of women across Poland and reject a regressive legislative proposal that would erode reproductive rights, over 200 human and women’s rights groups from across the globe said in a statement issued today. The Parliament is debating a draft
Dear Partners, We regret to inform you that Fem will no longer be in operation in South Africa as of March 31, 2018. Fem was launched in March 2017 in South Africa and is powered by safe2choose, an international social enterprise whose mission is to prevent unsafe abortions worldwide. Since its launch in early 2017,
One month since YouTube arbitrarily suspended the accounts of leading pro-choice organizations (only to go back on its decision a few days later), the social media platform has targeted another reproductive rights advocate: safe2choose, a social enterprise that connects women all around the world to accurate information and quality, affordable safe abortion pills. YouTube Censorship:
Access to safe abortion options has constantly been a challenge all over the world. It’s hard to tell when women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights started being threatened and denied, or if even our body autonomy was ever respected. However, history is cyclical and we definitely have some things to learn from the pro-choice
Analyzing the situation in Uganda When looking into addressing issues around abortion globally, connecting with local partners is one of safe2choose’s main instruments. We believe that working with those who have the knowledge and the expertise of their own countries is the best way to raise awareness and to find ways of improving access to
By Dineo Mokwena Fem by safe2choose is a mobile platform that provides women with information and access to their sexual health needs. Fem particularly focuses on the termination of pregnancy in South Africa as a large number of women are still seeking backdoor abortions which lead to lifelong complications or death. The intervention cannot stop here
By Dineo Mokwena One day you may walk down the road and not see the same young girl you saw everyday, coming from school for the past three years at the same time. You may wonder what happened to her but not ask questions because she’s not your friend. She’s a total stranger, but you
By: Elisa Wells When my mail carrier handed me the small brown envelope, I’m sure she had no idea she was handing me the means to have a safe, private abortion at home. I had ordered the pills a week and a half earlier off a somewhat sketchy website and, frankly, was wondering if they
By Michell Mor Limited contraceptive and abortion access is a problem filled with stigma and judgement, whether you’re in America or any other continent. In the United States, anti-abortion groups have long been causing troubles in clinics – notably in states like Texas and Mississippi – by trying to persuade women not to opt for
By Kanyisa Booi In 2017, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act, which has equipped the South African legislation with one of the most progressive abortion laws in the world. However, according to a study conducted by HEARD, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, 50% of
By Pauline Diaz When organizing a talk with a group of young teenagers about reproductive health, you can always expect a little shyness, some repelled looks, and many nervous laughs from the audience. However, when you discuss with a group of young sex workers that had to grow up quicker than regular teenage girls, don’t
The digital gadgets such as social networks, applications and more have helped bring people to all kinds of information and helped communicate in various ways no matter the distance. However, bringing Women in Latin America closer to these technologies by talking about safe abortion and reproductive rights has been a challenge. For this reason, safe2choose
Dear Daughter, As it is my duty of memory to celebrate the strong women that fought for your rights during tougher times, I needed to tell you the story of 2017. In 2017, 35% of women worldwide were experiencing physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Some national studies were even showing
Standing up for Polish women’s rights Black Mondays are usually signs of turbulence and often unavoidable wake up calls that follow a series of thoughtless decisions.On October 3rd, 2016, such a Monday was more than necessary for Polish women to protest a Christian group’s attempt to remove their reproductive rights. It was preceded by a six month
Reproductive health organizations from Eastern Africa are discussing challenges and ways to improve access to safe abortion in the region. At safe2choose, we could not miss the opportunity to working collaboratively towards connecting more and more women to accurate information and safe procedures. In order to fully achieve this, a lot has to happen behind
From a young age, girls are exposed to posters on the side of the road reading “quick & painless abortion”. It doesn’t take long before this message is ingrained in their heads and such information is ready to be used in case they ever find themselves in this situation. Abortion in South Africa is rarely
On September 28th, 2017, many people around the world concerned with women’s rights attended events for the International Safe Abortion Day. Besides participating in a global campaign articulated by respected international and local organizations, safe2choose also decided to join a smaller discussion group in Mathare, an informal settlement of Nairobi, Kenya, to understand the daily
In honor of the International Safe Abortion Day, we’ve invited several organizations to answer this simple question: Why must safe abortion be available to all women worldwide? Read their different responses along with special artwork created by safe2choose. Each response is shown in their respective language: Ipas México: La Revuelta, Colectiva Feminista: Porque es incondicional
What would be more powerful than art to express the feeling of a whole community? The deepest transformations of a society always come from emotional reactions, and art has the power to spark up these feelings and start conversations. To help talk about a sensitive subject and advocate for the importance of safe abortions in
On International Safe Abortion Day, safe2choose invited worldwide organizations to join efforts in raising awareness about the importance of providing access to safe abortion to all women. Every year, over 56 million abortions are carried on. Most of these women are denied the right to dignity and non-judgmental care. This is why we are calling
“Abortion is dangerous”, “abortion is selfish”, “abortion leads to infertility”. Haven’t we all heard these kind of statements before? But let’s hit the breaks for a second, think rationally, and take a look at what science tells us. In a world where we are constantly overloaded with information, women are continually struggling to access the
Dineo Mokwena I did not have the most normal childhood, so I was left alone a lot and had to navigate my way through each day, sometimes with the help of my helper. Both my parents are in healthcare and, when growing up under such a heavy medical influence, you tend to build an interest
In countries where abortion is illegal or more heavily restricted than it is in the U.S., external women’s-health organizations often try to fill in the gap. There’s Women on Waves, the Dutch group behind a semi-famous “abortion boat” offering medication-facilitated abortions to women in international waters a few miles off the coast of their own
. – Patrick Adams After lunch on a Saturday in late January at her home in Los Angeles, Francine Coeytaux, 63, an abortion rights activist, retrieved a Priority Mail envelope from her office and announced to her guests, a group of young women she had recruited to her cause, the results of a recent experiment.
Please notice the information below was kindly compiled by the blog Feminist Ire on April 2017. If you’re looking for updated guidance, please contact our counselors directly at info@safe2choose.org. (A Rough Guide to Ireland – Part 1) So you’re pregnant and you don’t want to be. What next? First things first – commiserations on finding
Global crises surrounding refugees, famine and climate change are on the rise, but so are grassroots solutions aimed at helping at-risk populations. As we discussed last week on this blog, there are already many tech solutions being implemented in Africa to help combat famine. Another hot button issue is the implementation of the Mexico City
it has been just over one month since Fem launched in Gauteng. Our goal has always been to provide women across South Africa with the information they need to obtain safe, legal abortion care. We started in Gauteng for a few reasons: it’s where our staff is located, it’s where many of our stakeholders are
Source: PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images By Joseph D. Lyons, Bustle.com Abortion laws in the United States are not equal across all jurisdictions, and while that may not be a surprise to you, it’s looking like the House Republicans want to make it a whole lot worse. On Tuesday they passed HR-7, a bill that would permanently
Only a few days away from officially launching our mHealth tool in South Africa, we could not be more pleased with the progress we have made. Countdown with us! FIVE: Focus Group Testing! This past week we conducted our first round of focus group testing. Our SMS platform was used in real-time by real people,
The positive result of her pregnancy test fell heavy on Ana’s shoulders, a 28 year old Brazilian woman. Her job as a maid could barely feed her 3 children. Her husband was unemployed and had been coping with alcohol. Desperate, she seeked help from her neighbour, Maria. Years before Ana learned that Maria had also
This is the list I wish I had ten years ago. After I had an abortion, nobody knew what to say to me. Not even Larry, my therapist. Poor Larry. Looking back, I would not have known what to say to me, either. One in three women will have an abortion in her lifetime. Men,
safe2choose has just launched a new website to share information about the Zika virus epidemic. With growing concerns about the virus spreading, the Rio Olympic Games just around the corner and the World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirming the link between microcephaly and the Zika virus during pregnancy, safe2choose’s new landing page, pregnantwithzika.org, seeks to
Abortion is generally restricted in Mexico. This means that, although there is some legal protection, legislation differs between states, making it difficult for many women to receive safe abortion. Laws base eligibility for and legality of abortion based on the circumstances of the pregnancy. This variation in legislation between states has created a discriminatory, stigma-ridden,
When I knew I was pregnant, I also knew I was going to have an abortion. So I booked an appointment at the closest clinic and had to wait until the following week, because there was no space. The date finally arrived, and I had to take two buses and the subway during rush hours
Many people believe that abortions are unsafe or that in order to have a safe abortion, it must take place in a healthcare institution. This is false. Having an abortion using pills, also known as a medical abortion, is a safe method that has changed the way women can end a pregnancy. With the right
On January 31st, 2016, it will be one year since the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, introduced a bill into Congress to allow abortion in instances when the mother’s life is at risk, fetal non-viability due to hereditary or genetic malformation, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape. After almost twelve months, the
Today, December 10th, is Human Rights Day. It commemorates the day on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The first article of this important document stated that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”[1], but almost 70 years later,
Due to the continuing public discourse around abortion and Repeal the Eighth (which is ever welcome, if exhausting in that “Are we still debating this?” kind of way), I decided to take another look at common myths surrounding abortion, and debunk them so that you have information knives with which to cut down anti-choice nonsense. Embryos and
Today, September 28th, marks the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. This day has been celebrated since 1990, but we are still far from awareness around this issue. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), on average, 211 million women become pregnant every year, and 87 million of them had
KENYA is making what looks to be moves towards easing its abortion laws, allowing abortions to take place under certain conditions. Local media reports recently stated that the country’s Health Cabinet Secretary, James Macharia, announced that the Government planned to reintroduce guidelines that would allow women to procure abortion from qualified medical personnel under certain conditions. Currently the
Women’s reproductive rights matter! And it should be an every day event. On August 3rd, safe2choose — a social enterprise committed to facilitating and scaling up access to safe medical abortion worldwide, via the internet – went live to bring women around the world a safe option. safe2choose offers confidential access to abortion pill through
“Keep Abortion Rare” is a pretty common phrase in the political and cultural conversation around abortion. And it isn’t just coming from anti-choice folks – more often, it’s actually coming from the pro-choice side. Declared proudly by former President Clinton and repeated by “pro-choice” politicians over the last decade, the phrase often accompanies a plea
Seven million women a year in the developing world are treated in healthcare facilities for complications following unsafe abortion, finds a study published today (19 August) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BJOG). Every day, approximately 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Unsafe abortion accounts for 8
Nearly all abortions in Norway today are performed with the abortion pill Mifepristone. This has resulted in shorter waiting time, earlier abortions, and the possibility to have abortions at home. “It’s a success story,” says Mette Løkeland, who has done research on medical abortion in Norway between 1998 and 2013. In 1998, the waiting time
According to a new study that tracked hundreds of women who had abortions, more than 95 percent of participants reported that ending a pregnancy was the right decision for them. Feelings of relief outweighed any negative emotions, even three years after the procedure. Researchers examined both women who had first-trimester abortions and women who had
Maria was just 12 years old when she arrived at the Marie Stopes clinic in Mexico City. Raped by her grandfather, she was already 19 weeks pregnant. Frightened and overwhelmed, she had been hospitalised for five days with no resolution and time was ticking to safely end the pregnancy. The problem wasn’t the law –
Durban – The KwaZulu-Natal health MEC has vowed to root out illegal abortion “clinics” in the province to save young mothers from unscrupulous practitioners who prey on vulnerable, pregnant young women. During his budget presentation at the legislature on Wednesday, Dhlomo said pregnant young women were putting their lives at risk by opting for the
Demonstrators hold a banner reading “Free Abortion” during a march for the legalization of abortion in Santiago on July 25, 2013. AFP PHOTO/MARTIN BERNETTI (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) Abortion has been illegal in Chile since 1989. In a new series of satirical YouTube videos, some Chilean women are taking a bold stance on
Abortion solves a problem. When this solution is denied or inaccessible, the unwanted, dangerous, or abnormal pregnancy persists. What happens thereafter to the woman and her child? View the original article here.
Did you know that 74 countries worldwide allow abortion on broad grounds or without restriction? Find out more on this virtual map produced by the Center for Reproductive Rights. You can visually compare the legal status of induced abortion in different countries and regions. http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/
In El Salvador, 17 women are currently in jail because they faced complications with their pregnancies in the past. This is the result of one of the most extreme abortion bans in the world. Want to help? Check out the “Take action” call promoted by International Planned Parenthood Federation/WHR and make your voice heard.
Abortion is legal in Turkey since 1983. However, activists from the Purple Roof women’s shelter in Istanbul have found that only three out of 37 state hospitals agreed to provide non-emergency terminations, of which only one offered abortions between the eighth and 10th week of gestation. Want to read the full article? Visit: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/04/istanbul-hospitals-refuse-abortions-government-attitude
The debate on abortion in Spain is not over. Young women from Spain may have to get parental consent to access safe and legal abortion if an ammendment to the current abortion law is approved in 2015. Learn more about the restrictive policies being promoted by the PP -political party in power: http://spanishnewstoday.com/spanish-government-pushes-ahead-with-minor-abortion-reform_20811-a.html
