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

18.04.2024

Blog

FIGO

FIGO Committee on Safe Abortion

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Ivonne Diaz

La Mesa por la Vida y la Salud de las Mujeres

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

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

30.11.2023

Commentary

Dr Swebby Macha

FIGO

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Safe Abortion Advocacy Group

self-managed abortion

Self-Managed Abortion Advocacy project

Zambia Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians

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/

17.11.2023

Commentary

Anu Kumar

FIGO

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

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

28.09.2023

FIGO Committee on Safe Abortion

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

International Safe Abortion Day

Kader Avonnon

Livingstone Safe Abortion Care Charter

Unstoppable Movement

Zambian Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians

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

#IAmSAFE campaign launch: supporting safe abortion care in Africa

FIGO’s Advocating for Safe Abortion Project is proud to support the newly launched #IAmSAFE campaign, run by five of our member societies in Africa. This campaign, running until October 2023, aims to coordinate communication efforts regarding access to safe abortion in the West Africa region.

7 August 2023
Aude Langlois, Senior Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Abortion is a crucial part of universal health coverage and a time-sensitive procedure. The slightest delay can have severe repercussions on the health and well-being of women and girls.

Every year, 35 million women use risky and less safe methods to terminate their pregnancies, and gynaecologists, obstetricians and other health care professionals around the world witness first-hand the consequences of these practices daily.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/iamsafe-campaign-launch-supporting-safe-abortion-care-africa

07.08.2023

FIGO Advocating for Safe Abortion project

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Kader Avonnon

Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians Cameroon

How can innovation help increase access to self-managed medical abortion in Sub-Saharan Africa?

1 August 2023
Jameen Kaur, FIGO Advocating for Safe Abortion Project, and Julia Hanne, Options Consultancy Services Ltd

Increasing access to safe abortion reduces maternal mortality and disability. However, currently, 45% of all abortions globally are unsafe and are a catastrophic public health problem, accounting for up to 13% of preventable maternal deaths worldwide and causing hundreds of thousands of survivors to live with preventable long-term complications.

The World Health Organisation states that in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, a medical abortion can safely be self-managed by the pregnant person outside of a health care facility (e.g., at home), in whole or in part, and with access to quality medicines, accurate information and the support from a trained health worker (if needed).

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/how-can-innovation-help-increase-access-self-managed-medical-abortion-sub-saharan-africa

Reducing maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean

29 March 2023
Reyes Castellano, Senior Communications and Engagement Manager, FIGO

Earlier this month FIGO participated in the launch of the Zero Maternal Deaths: Prevent the preventable campaign, a call to action led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to accelerate maternal mortality reduction in Latin American and the Caribbean.

Dr Edgar Iván Ortiz Lizcano, as a representative of la Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Obstetricia y Ginecologia (FLASOG) and Regional Trustee for Latin America, signed a joint declaration to demonstrate our commitment to support efforts towards preventing maternal deaths in the region.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/reducing-maternal-mortality-latin-america-and-caribbean

29.03.2023

News

Dr Edgar Iván Ortiz Lizcano

Federación Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Obstetricia y Ginecologia

FIGO

International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics

Reyes Castellano

Zero Maternal Deaths campaign

#EmbraceEquity: Women’s access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in humanitarian settings

March 8, 2023
Aude Langlois, Senior Communications and Marketing Coordinator, FIGO

To mark International Women’s Day 2023, FIGO is highlighting the need to embrace equity in women’s health care. Women and girls in crisis settings are at heightened risk of having limited access to essential health care – including sexual and reproductive health services. To defend the rights of women and girls in humanitarian contexts, it is essential to promote and protect the provision of health services.

The increased vulnerability of women and girls in humanitarian crises
In crisis settings, women and girls face significant hardships when trying to access sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Chronic fragility and displacement among women and girls puts them at high risk of unwanted pregnancy by increasing their risks of sexual violence, transactional and coercive sex, human trafficking, and other forms of sexual exploitation and violence.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/embraceequity-womens-access-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-humanitarian-settings