Philippines – Women’s rights orgs urge authorities to decriminalize abortion

By KAELA MALIG, GMA News
Published May 25, 2021

Women's rights organizations urged legislators to decriminalize abortion as women continue to die from unsafe abortion complications.

In a media workshop on Tuesday, EnGendeRights executive director Atty. Claire Padilla said that the restrictive 1930 Revised Penal Code abortion law has not stopped the number of women from inducing abortion but has only endangered lives of hundreds of women who undergo unsafe abortions due to several personal reasons.

Continued: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/788842/women-s-rights-orgs-urge-authorities-to-decriminalize-abortion/story/

Women's rights orgs urge authorities to decriminalize abortion

By KAELA MALIG, GMA News
Published May 25, 2021

Women's rights organizations urged legislators to decriminalize abortion as women continue to die from unsafe abortion complications.

Continued: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/788842/women-s-rights-orgs-urge-authorities-to-decriminalize-abortion/story/

25.05.2021

Events/Campaigns

News

1930 Revised Penal Code

Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights

‘Pasya’ album destigmatising abortion in the Philippines features BP Valenzuela, members of The Buildings, Flying Ipis and more

NME talks to artists and organisers behind the eclectic compilation, which is out today

By Michael Beltran
30th April 2021

A number of Philippines artists, including BP Valenzuela and Aly Cabral of The Buildings, have joined forces on ‘Pasya’, a compilation advocating the destigmatisation and decriminalisation of abortion in the country.

Digitally released today (April 30), the 12-track album – whose title means ‘choice’ – is also a collaboration between several pro-choice and advocacy groups: It was spearheaded by the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) and is a collaboration with the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN) and Filipino Freethinkers, with support from Safe Abortion Action Fund (SAAF) and Abortion Conversation Projects (ACP).

Continued: https://www.nme.com/en_asia/news/music/pasya-album-destigmatising-abortion-in-the-philippines-features-bp-valenzuela-members-of-the-buildings-flying-ipis-and-more-2931054

Philippines – This music album presents tales about abortion we need to understand

Because unsafe abortion is an issue of public health, human rights, and social justice

Published April 16, 2021
by John Legaspi

Humanity has been making things taboo for a handful of reasons. Often, these are things they don’t know much about. Sometimes, they do know some things about it but reject further information. In other cases, they are given unfair images about the subject. In the case of abortion, unfortunately, it ticks all the boxes.

In the past, we rarely saw good materials about abortion. People who try to speak about it are always met with judging eyes. But thanks to modern media and art, discussions about abortion have once again arisen. Who could forget about that abortion episode in “Sex Education” or that 2020 art exhibit “Abortion is Normal” in the US? Organizations like Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) and Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN) has been doing the same thing in the Philippines, particularly, in advocating for safe abortion.

Continued: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/16/this-music-album-presents-tales-about-abortion-we-need-to-understand/

Tanzania – Maternal health: Life of a mother matters

Maternal health: Life of a mother matters

By Elizabeth Tungaraza
Friday November 1 2019

Debates and discussions by health stakeholders on how to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity in Tanzania have been continuing, reflecting at the toll of unsafe abortion and related maternal mortality.

Despite some promising progress recorded so far, reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity in Tanzania is still a challenge. Key findings of the 2015-16 Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS) shows that the estimated mortality and morbidity rate (MMR) of 556 deaths is “lower” than that recorded in the 2004-05 TDHS (578), but is higher than the ratios reported in the 2010 TDHS (454) and in the 2012 Population and Housing Census (432).

Continued: https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/magazine/Maternal-health--Life-of-a-mother-matters/1840564-5333370-b7fkdn/index.html

Kenya: On International Safe Abortion Day, “we learned how to love ourselves”

On International Safe Abortion Day, “we learned how to love ourselves”

2nd October, 2017

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 struggles faced by local women.

The event was held in a simple school hall that was decorated with posters and signs displaying slogans such as “Stop rollbacks on our SRHR, funding saves lives“, that carried the #IResistWePersist hashtag, promoted by the Women’s Global Campaign for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR). It was an opportunity to witness first hand the incredible achievements of a local NGO, Fortress of Hope Africa (FOHA), which has also joined safe2choose’s call to action to say why safe abortion must be available to all women worldwide.

Continued: https://safe2choose.org/safe-abortion-day-love/

How bitter herbs and botched abortions kill three women a day in the Philippines

How bitter herbs and botched abortions kill three women a day in the Philippines

In a country where more than 65% of women don’t use contraceptives and terminating pregnancy is illegal, ‘torturous’ practices are often the only option

Claudine Spera in Manila
Monday 10 July 2017

Outside the gates of Manila’s Quiapo church, deals are being done. Bitter herbs and abortion medication are traded illegally.

Next to an imposing statue depicting a foetus clasped in the hands of Christ, stalls offer an array of rosary beads, amulets, mangoes and songbirds. Here, the abortion pill misoprostol is on sale for just $5 (£3.90), as well as the herb pamparegla, which can induce menstruation and end pregnancy. All this goes on in the shadows of the largest Catholic church in Manila.

Continued at source: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/jul/10/how-bitter-herbs-and-botched-abortions-kill-three-women-a-day-in-the-philippines