Nigeria – Health advocates seek reinstatement of suspended Lagos pregnancy guidelines

At the programme, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, a professor, stated that the state still records about 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, describing the figure as unacceptable for a megacity.

by Emmanuel Agbo
July 8, 2026

Health advocates have renewed calls on the Lagos State government to reinstate the suspended Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications (STOP Guidelines), saying the policy could provide doctors with clearer clinical guidance and help reduce preventable maternal deaths.

The call was made by the Project Manager for Pamoja, Rumunse Obi, in an article titled “Dr Majek and the Ghost: Why Lagos Must Revisit the STOP Guidelines”, shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

Continued: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/893830-health-advocates-seek-reinstatement-of-suspended-lagos-pregnancy-guidelines.html

Malaysia – Deputy Minister sets record straight following misunderstanding over abortion remarks

By YASMIN ABDUL LATIF
Wednesday, 08 Jul 2026

PETALING JAYA: Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying has clarified that her recent remarks in the Dewan Rakyat on abortion referred specifically to illegal abortion services, not procedures permitted under Malaysian law.

She said abortion is generally a criminal offence under Sections 312 to 316 of the Penal Code, but Malaysian law provides a clear exception under Section 312.

Continued: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/07/08/deputy-minister-sets-record-straight-following-misunderstanding-over-abortion-remarks#goog_rewarded

08.07.2026

Women Family and Community Development Ministry

Asia

Malaysia

Politics

Sexual and emotional health: what Luxembourg’s first national survey reveals

July 6, 2026

The Health Directorate has presented the results of Luxembourg's first national survey on sexual and emotional health, conducted in 2025 among 2,371 residents aged 18 and over. The survey provides national data that offer a better understanding of the population's experiences, needs and behaviours in relation to sexual and emotional health. It highlights both progress made and significant challenges in areas such as the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), contraception, consent, sexual violence and tackling discrimination. The findings will help shape future public health action in this field.

… The survey also found that 17% of women surveyed reported having had at least one voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) during their lifetime.

Continued: https://gouvernement.lu/en/gouvernement/martine-deprez/actualites.gouvernement2024%2Ben%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2026%2B07-juillet%2B06-enquete-sas.html

06.07.2026

News

Europe

Luxembourg

Uganda – Family Medical Point Session at Nakiwogo Highlights Myths Fueling Unintended Pregnancies, Unsafe Abortions

By Kenneth Kazibwe
Monday, July 6, 2026

Women at Nakiwogo Landing Site have opened up about the difficult challenges pushing some of them into unsafe abortions, during a community musawo health outreach conducted by Family Medical Point. The session created a safe space where women shared personal experiences around unintended pregnancies, limited access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information, and the pressures that often lead them to seek unsafe abortion methods.

Many participants admitted that their decisions on family planning were shaped by myths and misconceptions, with some relying on informal information networks rather than verified medical guidance.

Continued: https://nilepost.co.ug/health/353950/family-medical-point-session-at-nakiwogo-highlights-myths-fueling-unintended-pregnancies-unsafe-abortions?amp=1

06.07.2026

Nakiwogo Landing Site

USA – Medicaid funding is resuming for Planned Parenthood after being cut off for most of a year

By GEOFF MULVIHILL
July 6, 2026

Planned Parenthood and two smaller regional abortion providers are resuming billing Medicaid for services other than abortion after being cut off for most of a year.

The defunding, which was mandated in President Donald Trump’s big tax and policy law last year, has been blamed in the closure of multiple clinics as well as a reduction in the number of Planned Parenthood patients being screened for breast cancer or tested for sexually transmitted infections.

Continued: https://apnews.com/article/defunding-abortion-providers-0647d9303a1df48c244206bfb66f97a2

06.07.2026

News

Evelyn Kieltyka

Maine Family Planning

SOUTH AFRICA – Limpopo teen says religious objection at clinic drove her to unsafe abortion

Moyahabo Mabeba
July 6, 2026

An 18-year-old from rural Limpopo says she was denied a legal abortion at a public clinic last month, after a nurse refused to help her on religious grounds, leaving her to seek an illegal abortion from a traditional healer.

In May, the matriculant from Makotopong village, says she missed her period and suspected she was pregnant.

“The moment I missed my menstruation, I just suspected that there was something wrong. I confided in my cousin, and she suggested that we buy a pregnancy test kit from a pharmacy. The kit confirmed the pregnancy.”

Continued: https://health-e.org.za/2026/07/06/limpopo-teen-religious-objection-clinic-unsafe-abortion/

South Korea – Woman sentenced in newborn’s motel death accuses baby’s father of fraud

A woman convicted for her newborn’s death says the baby’s father posed as a doctor, took abortion money and has been recommended for indictment on fraud charges.

July 5, 2026

A woman sentenced to six years in prison for leaving her newborn to die in a motel bathroom has accused the baby's father of fraud, alleging he posed as a doctor and took her money as she attempted to arrange an abortion, which fell through.

The woman was convicted of murder caused by child abuse by a local court.

The man, the newborn's biological father, dated the woman until January 2025 before they broke up. She later discovered she was pregnant and agreed with him that she would have an abortion.

Continued: https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/korea/woman-sentenced-in-newborns-motel-death-accuses-babys-father-of-fraud/12755571

05.07.2026

U.S. taking ‘obstructionist’ approach to UN’s efforts to foster equality: ambassador

By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
July 4, 2026

OTTAWA — The Trump administration is hindering work at the United Nations on advancing equality, says Canada’s UN Ambassador David Lametti.

“There has been a general obstructionist policy, (a) cantankerous policy with respect to women’s rights, a woman’s right to choose, with respect to LGBTQ+ rights (and) gender equality,” Lametti told The Canadian Press when asked to describe American actions at the UN.

“There’s a pushback any time you see the word ‘climate change’ anywhere, or you see ‘gender equality’ anywhere,” he added.

Continued: https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/2026/07/04/u-s-taking-obstructionist-approach-to-uns-efforts-to-foster-equality-ambassador/

Over 46,000 abortions carried out in Ireland in six years

A new 50-page report by the HSE examines the expansion of services and the number of terminations carried out by recognised providers in Ireland.

3 Jul 2026

OVER SEVEN YEARS after the termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks was legalised following a constitutional referendum, the HSE has published its first report into the termination of pregnancy services in Ireland.

The 50-page report examines the expansion of services and the number of terminations carried out by recognised providers in Ireland between the years 2019 and 2024.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/abortion-ireland-7-7090492-Jul2026/

04.07.2026

Health Service Executive

HSE

HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme

Uganda – Grassroots women demand greater access to reproductive health services

NELSON MANDELA | PML Daily
July 4, 2026

KAMPALA – Grassroots organizations, health advocates and women’s rights activists have called for increased investment in sexual and reproductive health services, stronger community engagement, and greater support for marginalized women during the inaugural Grassroots Power Assembly organized by the Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) Uganda.

The two-day event, held on Thursday at Ndere Cultural Centre and continuing on Friday at Hillside Plaza Hotel in Ntinda, brought together more than 30 grassroots organizations representing women from diverse and often marginalized communities, including women with disabilities, sex workers, women living with HIV, women who use drugs, and members of the LGBTI community.

Continued: https://pmldaily.com/news/2026/07/grassroots-women-demand-greater-access-to-reproductive-health-services.html