The crisis of unsafe abortion in Malawi: When human rights are denied, women and girls die

By Mandipa Machacha and Tsidi Leatswe
8 December 2025

When Tadala Zindawa**, (21) from Tata village in Lilongwe’s Chitukula area, fell pregnant while in secondary school, she was overcome by fear and panic. Scared of her parents’ disapproval and with abortion criminalized in Malawi, Tadala resorted to unsafe methods using Aloe Vera or Surf Soap to induce abortion. The procedure not only failed, but it led to severe pain and heavy bleeding. She survived after post-abortion care, but the psychological and physical scars are lifelong.

Nevertheless, Tadala is one of the lucky ones.

Every year, hundreds of women and girls in Malawi die or are injured from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. According to the Malawi Ministry of Health and the Guttmacher Institute, about 141,000 abortions occur annually in Malawi, the vast majority unsafe and accounting for 6–18% of maternal deaths.

Continued: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2025/12/the-crisis-of-unsafe-abortion-in-malawi-when-human-rights-are-denied-women-and-girls-die/

Malawi – Masamba calls for stronger national action on women’s health rights

Dec 01, 2025
Eric Chiputula

Parliamentary Committee on Health chairperson Anthony Masamba has called on Malawi to move beyond policy dialogue and implement concrete measures to advance women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.

Speaking during a day-long engagement on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and access to safe abortion services in Salima, the Mchinji North East legislator told policymakers, civil society leaders, and health experts that ongoing discussions are crucial to improving the lives of millions of women and girls.

Continued : https://malawi24.com/2025/12/01/masamba-calls-for-stronger-national-action-on-womens-health-rights/

01.12.2025

News

Anthony Masamba

Maputo Protocol

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Historic win as Malawi High Court approves abortion access for survivors of sexual violence

November 14, 2025
Ipas

The High Court in Malawi has ruled that adolescent survivors of sexual violence have the right to access abortion services in both public and private health facilities. Previously, abortion was only legally permitted to save a pregnant person’s life.

Ipas Malawi welcomed this landmark decision affirming the right of women and girls to sexual and reproductive health. This win is the result of relentless advocacy by Ipas and partner organizations in a country that has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in Africa, despite unsafe abortion accounting for 18% of maternal deaths.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/malawi-high-court-approves-abortion-access-survivors-sexual-violence/

14.11.2025

News

abortion law reform

Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion

COPUA

Felix Chinguwo

Ipas Malawi

Malawi Human Rights Commission

Malawi – Heavenly court ruling on abortion

Malawi News
8 Nov 2025

In the heart of southern Africa lies Malawi, a land draped in cerulean lakes and undulating hills—a nation with vibrant communities, enduring traditions, and profound challenges. Among those challenges is the stark reality of unsafe abortion: a silent storm ravaging the lives of countless women and girls, shrouded in stigma and obscured by restrictive law. Imagine a young woman, perhaps a teenager, trembling under the weight of an unwanted pregnancy. In Malawi, securing a safe termination is often not a viable option:

Continued: https://www.pressreader.com/malawi/malawi-news/20251108/282458535217227

08.11.2025

It’s women’s rights versus religion in Malawi abortion fight

Privilege Musvanhiri
Nov 6, 2025

Until recently, abortion in Malawi was only permitted when a woman's life was in danger. But, recently, the country's High Court ruled that survivors of sexual violence who end up pregnant are entitled to the procedure.

According to Malawi's Gender Equality Law, every person has the right to adequate sexual and reproductive health and, subject to the law, the right to choose whether or not to have a child.

For more than 15 years, women's rights organizations have lobbied for a Termination of Pregnancy Bill. Although a draft bill exists, it has yet to be tabled in parliament.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/its-womens-rights-versus-religion-in-malawi-abortion-fight/a-74576001

Malawi: Landmark High Court Ruling Affirms Rights of Sexual Violence Survivors

October 29, 2025
Amnesty International

Reacting to a ruling by the High Court in Malawi that denying a 14-year-old rape survivor access to a safe termination of pregnancy violated her sexual and reproductive health rights under Sections 19 and 20 of the Gender Equality Act (GEA), Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa regional office, Tigere Chagutah, said:

“In a country where abortion remains largely criminalized, this landmark ruling sets an important precedent. It affirms that forcing a woman or girl to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term is a violation of their rights. It safeguards the constitutional and human rights of survivors of sexual violence to access quality abortion care, while protecting them from the life-threatening risks associated with unsafe abortions.

Continued: https://www.amnestyusa.org/press-releases/malawi-landmark-high-court-ruling-affirms-rights-of-sexual-violence-survivors/

29.10.2025

News

Amnesty International

Chileka Health Centre

MALAWI – MPs called to tackle abortion law reform

30 Sep 2025
By Innocent Chunga

Reproductive health advocates have called on Malawi’s newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) to urgently review the country’s restrictive abortion law, warning that unsafe procedures continue to claim women’s lives.

Faith Kadzanja, representative of the Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (Copua), made the call during this year’s International Safe Abortion Day commemorations.

https://www.pressreader.com/malawi/the-daily-times-malawi/20250930/281840059846377

30.09.2025

News

abortion law reform

Chief Kalimanjira

Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion

Dr Amos Nyaka

Faith Kadzanja

International Safe Abortion Day

Ipas research shows hidden barriers to abortion access for adolescents in Africa

September 19, 2025
Ipas

When a 19-year-old in Ethiopia found herself pregnant, she made a chilling calculation. “I was sure [taking abortion pills] would either end the pregnancy or kill me,” she shared. “I preferred dying than my family hearing and getting angry with me.”

Her experience is captured along with that of many young people like her in powerful research exploring adolescent abortion care across Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zambia. Conducted by Ipas and partners—including the London School of Economics and partners across Africa—this groundbreaking study captures the voices and experiences of 313 adolescents seeking abortion-related care.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/ipas-research-shows-hidden-barriers-to-abortion-access-for-adolescents-in-africa/

19.09.2025

Research

barriers to abortion access

Malawi High Court Affirms Center’s Position as Leading Reproductive Rights Expert in Groundbreaking Abortion Case

The Center for Reproductive Rights was admitted as Amicus Curiae in a groundbreaking Malawi case that could expand abortion access for survivors of sexual violence.

Aug 11, 2025

January 2025 marked a milestone for the Center for Reproductive Rights’ Africa Program when Malawi’s High Court accepted it as Amicus Curiae, or “friend of the court” in a groundbreaking case on safe abortion access. The Center provided legal expertise supporting the rights of sexual assault survivors.

The case, AC & Others v. Jenala Solomon & Others (Civil Cause No. 162 of 2023), was brought on behalf of a 13-year-old girl who became pregnant after being sexually assaulted. When AC sought care at a health facility, the attending health officer—despite confirming the pregnancy and the clear risks it posed to her health—refused to provide an abortion. A gynecologist later confirmed that continuing the pregnancy would severely endanger her life, and it was ultimately terminated after unnecessary delay and distress.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/malawi-high-court-affirms-centers-position-reproductive-rights-expert-groundbreaking-abortion-case/

11.08.2025

News

AC & Others v. Jenala Solomon & Others

Center for Reproductive Rights

High Court to determine on a minor’s abortion case

May 19, 2025

The High Court in Blantyre has completed hearing the evidence in a case where a minor is seeking clarification on whether she is eligible to access safe and legal abortion under the Gender Equality Act as read with other laws including Penal Code provisions.

Presiding Judge Mike Tembo concluded the hearing of evidence in the case on Friday 16^th May 2025 and adjourned the case to a later date, directing the parties to file their final submissions within 21 days.

Continued: https://www.nyasatimes.com/high-court-to-determine-on-a-minors-abortion-case/

19.05.2025