Five African Countries with Somewhat Progressive Abortion Laws

A woman's decision to have an abortion is rarely simple, as many factors can influence or necessitate a woman’s need or decision to have an abortion.

By Mariam Ahmed
Apr 3, 2026

At 185 deaths per 100,000 abortion, Africa had the highest abortion fatality rate of any world region in 2019. Ongoing efforts by different African countries to both improve abortion safety and expand access to quality post-abortion care through abortion laws in Africa, have contributed to a decline in the rate of maternal deaths due to unsafe abortions in individual countries.

A woman’s decision to have an abortion is rarely simple, as many factors can influence or necessitate a woman’s need or decision to have an abortion. The circumstances that can lead to it varies: contraceptive failure, limited access to family planning, rape, incest, fetal anomalies, illness during pregnancy, or exposure to medications that pose serious risks to a developing fetus. In some cases, the decision is not a choice at all. Pregnancy complications such as placental abruption and severe cardiac or renal conditions can escalate to the point where terminating the pregnancy is not an option being considered, it is the only measure that can preserve a woman’s health or save her life.

Continued: https://culturecustodian.com/five-african-countries-with-somewhat-progressive-abortion-laws/

03.04.2026

Action Canada and Global Partners Unite to Advance Equitable Reproductive Health Amid Rising Global Rollbacks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2026

Ottawa, ON — Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights alongside leading international partners are proud to announce the launch of the Strengthening Health Systems Integrated & Transformative SRHR (SHIFTS) project — a groundbreaking initiative designed to transform how sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are delivered in Benin, Mozambique, and Nigeria, through resilient, integrated health systems.

“This work has never been more urgent,” says Meghan Doherty, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Action Canada. “In a moment where the health and rights are rights of women girls and marginalized people are under threat around the world in, we are building coalitions that will hold the line and work for change.”

Continued: https://www.actioncanadashr.org/news/2026-03-30-action-canada-and-global-partners-unite-advance-equitable-reproductive-health-amid-rising-global

Reform of frameworks for sexual and reproductive health: A regional dynamic between Togo, Cameroon and Benin

FIGO
4 March 2026
ATBEF – the Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial

In February 2026, Centre ODAS, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) conducted a regional initiative in Lomé, Togo and in Grand-Popo, Benin, aimed at strengthening the legal framework for sexual and reproductive health in Francophone Africa.

Bringing together governmental and civil society stakeholders from Togo – the Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Être Familial (ATBEF), the Société de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique du Togo (SGOT), the Direction de la Santé de la Mère et de l’Enfant (DSME), and the Legal Division of the Ministry of Health – Cameroon – the Cameroon National Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW), the Société des Obstétriciens et Gynécologues du Cameroun (SOGOC), a national Think Tank, and the Ministries of Health and Justice – and Benin – the Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF), the Conseil National des Gynécologues et Obstétriciens du Bénin (CNGOB), the Direction de la Santé de la Mère et de l’Enfant (DSME), and the National Assembly – the proceedings enabled an in-depth analysis of national legal and health environments.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/reform-frameworks-sexual-and-reproductive-health-regional-dynamic-between-togo-cameroon-and

Supporting Abortion Rights In West And Central Africa

PUBLISHED JANUARY 18, 2024
Global Fund for Women

Deciding how to spend one million dollars may just be a dream for many people, but for a group of West and Central African feminist leaders, it was a reality.

They gathered in person for the first time in the seaside town of Kribi, Cameroon to celebrate a historic moment: together they made collective decisions to direct $1.2 million in grants to fund abortion rights movement work in their communities.

Continued: https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/latest/article/shifting-power-supporting-movements-abortion-rights-in-west-and-central-africa-lessons-learned/

18.01.2024

Commentary

Caryn Dasah

Global Fund for Women

Decriminalization of abortion in Benin: a solution to reduce female mortality and morbidity?

Kparon Baaru
March 28, 2023

Unsafe abortions are one of the causes of female mortality and morbidity worldwide. According to the WHO, estimates of the number of abortions in Africa stand at 6 million. Of this figure, only 3% are done in medicalized and safe conditions for women. Among the victims who eventually succumb or suffer over time from serious infections, cancer of the cervix or sterility, there are a large number of adolescent girls and young women. To remedy this, a few rare African countries are taking the resolution to legalize voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion). Among these, is now added Benin. Is the legalization of abortion the solution to reduce clandestine abortions and a step forward in access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) in Benin?

The WHO defines abortion as a simple health intervention that can be managed effectively by a wide range of health workers using drugs or by surgery. Abortion is a subject that we avoid talking about especially in the presence of adolescents and young people in Africa. This neglected point in the debates is an integral part of SRHR. Adolescents and young people do not have access to reliable information related to sexuality and reproduction as they should.

Continued: https://www.breakinglatest.news/world/decriminalization-of-abortion-in-benin-a-solution-to-reduce-female-mortality-and-morbidity-kparon-baaru/

Benin passed one of Africa’s most liberal abortion laws. Why are women still dying?

Social and spiritual factors mean that desperate women are still risking their lives by resorting to unsafe terminations

Sarah Johnson
Tue 28 Feb 2023

There is a patient Dr Véronique Tognifode, a gynaecologist, will always remember. About eight years ago, Abosede*, a student, visited her clinic in tears. Pregnant with an unwanted baby, she asked for an abortion, but the law in Benin at that time permitted termination only in cases of rape or incest, or where the mother’s life was at risk or the unborn child had a serious medical condition.

Tognifode counselled her, telling her a baby was a blessing and that she would help her through the pregnancy. Tognifode felt Abosede took all this on board, and “she left in a calmer state, saying she would come back for prenatal appointments”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/feb/28/benin-africa-liberal-abortion-laws-women-still-dying

While Abortion Rights Shrink in U.S., This Small Country Expanded Access

The West African nation of Benin adopted one of the continent’s most liberal laws on abortion last year after hearing testimony from gynecologists about women dying from illegal abortions.

By Elian Peltier
Nov. 13, 2022

COTONOU, Benin — When lawmakers in the West African nation of Benin met last year to consider whether to legalize abortion, they heard shocking testimony from Dr. Véronique Tognifode, the country’s minister of social affairs, about what she had seen during her years working as a gynecologist.

She recounted how she and her peers had struggled to save women who had tried to end their pregnancies by ingesting dubious pills or bleach, inserting sharp objects into their bodies or getting illegal abortions from the dangerous hacks known locally as “mechanics.”

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/13/world/africa/benin-abortions.html

Abortion in Kenya and Benin: medical safety isn’t enough – women and girls need to feel safe socially too

September 27, 2022
Ramatou Ouedraogo, Grace Kimemia, Jonna Both

Safe abortion and post abortion care are essential health services. But until the publication of the 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) abortion care guidelines there was a narrow definition of abortion safety. In previous WHO guidelines, medical safety was the guiding principle of safe abortion. Safety, according the WHO, referred to abortion carried out using the recommended methods, by a person with the necessary skills or in an environment that conformed to minimal medical standards, or both.

However, research shows that many girls and young women do not search for medical safety when seeking abortion care. They prioritise “social safety”. This is the case regardless of whether they live in settings with restrictive or more liberal laws. Women’s priority is avoiding prosecution and social stigma.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/abortion-in-kenya-and-benin-medical-safety-isnt-enough-women-and-girls-need-to-feel-safe-socially-too-189151

27.09.2022

medical safety of abortion

self-managed abortion

World Health Organization

Standing strong: youth health workers from Benin share lessons from sexual and reproductive health and rights workshop

28 April 2022
FIGO Advocating for Safe Abortion Project

From 9–11 March 2022, in Cotonou, Benin, FIGO’s Advocating for Safe Abortion Project worked with the National College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Benin (CNGOB) to organise a capacity building workshop for their counterparts visiting from Mali alongside the Youth Health Workers for Safe Abortion (YHW4SA) – a Beninese network of young pro-choice health professionals set-up in 2021 by CNGOB.

The group attending the workshop was made up of 15 members of the YHW4SA network and five members of the Malian Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SOMAGO).

The aim was to share knowledge and tools on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and on best practice to discuss abortion, in order to enable participants to address abortion stigma and strengthen access to safe abortion in their workplaces and wider communities.

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/youth-health-workers-benin-share-lessons-srhr-workshop

2021: Changes in abortion laws worldwide

Poland has virtually banned abortion, and the United States is also looking at tightening restrictions. But other countries, like Thailand and Benin, have started to loosen their restrictive measures. An overview.

29.12.2021
Ines Eisele

Access to abortion has become easier over the decades, according to Leah Hoctor, the senior regional director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights. She said that, with some exceptions, the global trend clearly points at liberalization. Several countries saw developments on the controversial issue over the last year.

Mexico: Penalizing abortion ruled unconstitutional
In September, the Supreme Court in Mexico, Latin America's second most populous country, declared an absolute ban on abortion unconstitutional. The right of women to reproductive self-determination is to be valued more highly than the protection of the fetus, the court said. With the ruling, the judges overturned an abortion ban in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/2021-changes-in-abortion-laws-worldwide/a-60280568