Fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment for women seeking abortion care

18 April 2024

Ivonne Diaz, Director of Division of SRHR, and Laura Gil, Chair of Committee on Safe Abortion

As part of FIGO’s ongoing commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive rights, the FIGO Committee on Safe Abortion would like to commend and highlight the exemplary work of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), which has recently issued guidance for healthcare professionals on involving the police following abortion and pregnancy loss.

The guidance is designed to foster a supportive and non-judgmental environment for women seeking care related to abortion, pregnancy loss, or unattended delivery. These guidelines emphasise the importance of treating women with dignity, respect and compassion, regardless of their reproductive choices or circumstances.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/blog/fostering-supportive-and-non-judgmental-environment-women-seeking-abortion-care


FIGO at 70: Our journey towards improving sexual and reproductive rights with the Advocating for Safe Abortion Project

As FIGO celebrates its 70th anniversary, we mark the vital role the Advocating for Safe Abortion (ASA) Project has had in improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people in lower income and lower middle-income countries. Here we reflect on the project's evolution, successes and enduring legacy.

11 April 2024
Jessica Morris

Building on strong foundations
The ASA Project launched in 2019 expanding on the work of the 2007 Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Initiative. A testament to FIGO's continuous commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, the project has become a vital piece of FIGO's efforts to address critical issues surrounding access to safe abortion. The ASA Project’s work focuses on implementing a dual pillar approach which supports societies to become stronger institutions and national leaders of SRHR, as well as implementing multi-pronged strategies to improve access to safe abortion.

Our work with national member societies – driven advocates, catalysing change
Through partnership with 12 national member societies in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, The ASA Project has emphasised the need for intersection of medical expertise and rights-based advocacy in diverse contexts. 

Continued: https://www.figo.org/blog/figo-70-our-journey-towards-improving-sexual-and-reproductive-rights-advocating-safe-abortion


Advancing together towards abortion access and quality care

19 February 2024
FIGO - Hannah Agnew, Senior Communications and Marketing Coordinator

A new supplement published in the International Journal of Gynecology (IJGO) describes the remarkable progress made in abortion access in crucial areas, such as law and policy reforms, improved access to information and supportive health systems and communities.

This compilation of positive case studies brings together examples from diverse regions, such as England and Wales, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Argentina and India. 

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/advancing-together-towards-abortion-access-and-quality-care-0


It’s Time to Recognize Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Providers as Human Rights Defenders

Around the world, frontline reproductive healthcare workers are facing physical and verbal abuse, public shaming and humiliation, harassment, legal threats, death threats, sexual assault and rapes—simply for doing their jobs.

Jan 9, 2024
by VICTORIA BOYDELL and KATE GILMORE

Around the world, frontline healthcare workers defending our right to sexual and reproductive healthcare services are under vicious attack from anti-rights actors.

In the horn of Africa, one district health official who has been providing sexual and reproductive health services for 15 years described the attacks he faces from local conservatives: “They tried to even shoot me because of the belief and the values that I had … I had provided family planning service[s] in my district. They said, ‘You are a genocider.’”

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2024/01/09/sexual-health-abortion-healthcare-providers-violence-threats-abuse/


Moral distress in the wake of abortion restrictions in the USA

6 December 2023
Dr Jocelyn Wascher, Dr Katherine Rivlin, Dr Julie Chor
FIGO

Dr Julie Chor presented the topic of moral distress at the FIGO World Congress 2023 in Paris. Alongside her colleagues Dr Jocelyn Wascher and Dr Katherine Rivlin, she delves into this concept and shares the far-reaching consequences of restrictive abortion laws in the US.

“I’m not going home pregnant.” The patient sitting in front of us is determined, her composure masking the effort it took to overcome countless barriers to get here. We already know her story. We heard it from her doctor in another state, who was desperate to help this patient with a lethal foetal anomaly terminate her pregnancy. Meeting her, the injustice of the situation feels much more tangible—the added insult of the long drive to Illinois, the impersonal hotel, and the distance from her support network, the mounting costs, compounding her already heart-rending situation. We also imagine the frustration, guilt, and distress her doctor must feel, emailing and calling multiple hospitals and clinics to get her to the care that they were now forbidden to provide, despite years of training and skills. 

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/moral-distress-wake-abortion-restrictions-usa


Uganda – Health service providers urged to extend post-abortion care without fear

NELSON MANDELA | PML Daily
December 3, 2023

KAMPALA – Health service providers in both public and private facilities have been urged to provide Post Abortion Care (PAC) without fear because it is fully provided for in the Ministry of Health standards and guidelines.

The call was made by Dr. Othman Kakaire – Executive Director of the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Uganda (AOGU).

Continued: https://www.pmldaily.com/features/health/2023/12/health-service-providers-urged-to-extend-post-abortion-care-without-fear.html


Removing barriers to access of safe abortion through self-management in Zambia

Recent international recommendations provided by the WHO (updated 2022 WHO Abortion Care Guidelines), state that in early pregnancy, medical abortion can be self-managed.

30 November 2023
FIGO

Enabling the option for self-managed abortion (SMA) can significantly improve access to safe, timely, affordable and person-centred abortion care. FIGO have been exploring different ways to support member societies to advocate for and operationalize SMA in their countries, as part of their work towards improving access to safe abortion services.

As part of this drive, FIGO have partnered with the Zambia Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (ZAGO) to carry out a project aimed at mainstreaming self-managed abortion as an option for women and girls in Zambia. 

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/removing-barriers-access-safe-abortion-through-self-management-zambia


Remembering a lifelong champion for women’s health and rights

Professor Mahmoud Fathalla, former FIGO president, boldly spoke the truth

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2023
ANU KUMAR, Ipas President and CEO

My colleagues and I are deeply saddened by the news of Professor Mahmoud Fathalla’s passing. As an OB-GYN who served in various positions with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), Fathalla devoted his life to advancing women’s reproductive health and rights.

What many of us at Ipas admired most about Fathalla was his willingness to call out how patriarchy prevents women’s reproductive health care from receiving the attention, funding and sense of urgency it needs and deserves.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/remembering-a-lifelong-champion-for-womens-health-and-rights/


International Safe Abortion Day 2023: OBGYNS are essential allies for the unstoppable abortion solidarity movement

On 28 September, we join forces with activists and partner organisations worldwide to mark International Safe Abortion Day. The theme for this year is Unstoppable Movement: Movement building, solidarity, and justice for the right to safe abortion

28 September 2023
Jameen Kaur, Advocacy and Communications Specialist – FIGO

Over the past 30 years, more than 60 countries have liberalised their abortion laws. From Benin to Ireland, abortion rights are increasingly recognised as human rights that strengthen gender equality and the right to bodily autonomy. Such recognition, and the associated changes in laws, policies and behaviours, have been achieved thanks to the concerted efforts of women’s rights activists, healthcare providers, youth movements and wider civil society. 

FIGO is proud to be part of this unstoppable global movement working together to strengthening safe abortion care. We are steadfast in our resolve to facilitate access to safe abortion care and combat abortion-related stigma.  Regulating abortion care like any other health care and removing it from penal codes is critical to achieve this goal.  We know change is possible and we will never give up.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/international-safe-abortion-day-2023-obgyns-are-essential-allies-unstoppable-abortion


Innovative names for empowering reproductive health

FIGO celebrates World Contraception Day 2023 announcing the winners of the Contraception Reimagined Challenge

26 September 2023
Hannah Agnew, FIGO Senior Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Led by FIGO's Committee on Contraception, the Contraception Reimagined Challenge invited visionary minds from FIGO's membership societies to reimagine the language used in conversations about contraception. 

After careful consideration of all the submissions received, the selection committee are delighted to announce that the winning entries are: 

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/innovative-names-empowering-reproductive-health