Advancing gender-responsive sexual and reproductive health in Mozambique

IPAS
April 24, 2026

Although Mozambique liberalized its abortion law in 2014 to expand access to safe abortion care and reduce maternal deaths, silence and stigma continue to surround sexual and reproductive health and rights—especially for adolescent girls.

This is now changing, thanks to coordinated, multilevel efforts by Ipas Mozambique with support from partners including Global Affairs Canada, as part of our shared commitment to advance gender equality and strengthen the national health system.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/advancing-gender-responsive-sexual-and-reproductive-health-in-mozambique/

24.04.2026

Commentary

Global Affairs Canada

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

How this abortion champion is expanding access in Mozambique

‘I will not stop fighting for safe abortion until no woman or girl is left behind’

March 16, 2026
Ipas

A tragic encounter early in her nursing career set Estrela Góia on the path to becoming a dedicated abortion champion who partners with Ipas Mozambique to train providers and expand access.

“I witnessed a lot of maternal deaths as a young nurse, and many were due to unsafe abortions,” says the maternal and child health-care manager with the Provincial Directorate of Health in Mozambique. “I remember once when a young woman came to our clinic with an incomplete abortion. She was desperate and afraid, but unfortunately, it was too late to reverse the damage caused by a back-alley procedure. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t save her. She died a painful, needless and preventable death, which deeply saddened me.”

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/how-this-abortion-champion-is-expanding-access-in-mozambique/

Unsafe abortions: Silent threat fueling maternal death crisis

By Ayoki Onyango
Feb 17, 2025

One of the major problems associated with reproductive health is unsafe abortions. This issue has been a dominant topic in reproductive and sexual rights workshops across Africa and globally, with the latest workshop on the subject taking place in Maputo, Mozambique.

It was also a central topic at a seminar in Kenya. Unsafe abortion has been identified as a leading cause of death for many young and middle-aged women in Kenya and other African countries. Medical experts argue that urgent measures must be put in place to prevent unnecessary deaths, particularly among single women. Discussions at these workshops have also focused on economic empowerment for women and the role of the media in highlighting reproductive health and sexual rights issues.

Continued: https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/health-science/article/2001511912/unsafe-abortions-silent-threat-fueling-maternal-death-crisis

17.02.2025

News

manual vacuum aspiration

Anti-AIDS program in peril after US finds nurses in Mozambique provided abortions

By Simon Lewis and Patricia Zengerle
January 16, 2025

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The flagship U.S. aid program on HIV/AIDS is in jeopardy, a senior Republican warned on Thursday, after U.S. officials said four nurses in Mozambique performed abortions that are banned under the multibillion-dollar program that has saved millions of lives globally.

Service providers that get funding through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are barred from providing abortion services under rules against U.S. foreign assistance being used for abortion-related activities, but the program has still faced criticism from anti-abortion Republicans.

Continued: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/anti-aids-program-peril-after-us-finds-nurses-mozambique-provided-abortions-2025-01-16/

16.01.2025

anti-choice stupidity

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

Ipas celebrates 21st anniversary of Maputo Protocol with regional conference in Mozambique

Event highlights the importance of collective action to fulfill the protocol’s promise of reproductive rights that include abortion access

August 9, 2024

Marking the 21st anniversary of the landmark Maputo Protocol, which guarantees extensive rights to African women and girls, Ipas hosted a two-day regional conference in Mozambique devoted to exploring the challenges and successes of implementing this fundamental treaty for gender equity.

“We were thrilled to host this conference in honor of the Maputo Protocol, a groundbreaking legal milestone that has been crucial in advancing women’s rights across Africa, including the essential right to safe and legal abortion,” says Jorge Matine, Country Director of Ipas Mozambique. “The passionate engagement by attendees in advancing and safeguarding abortion access across Southern Africa was truly inspiring. It’s a testament to the progress we’ve made and a powerful reminder that we must accelerate our efforts to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.”

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/ipas-celebrates-21st-anniversary-of-maputo-protocol-with-regional-conference-in-mozambique/

Stories of safe abortion care in Mozambique

29 JAN 2024
Médecins Sans Frontières

In every country, women from all walks of life may seek out an abortion at some time of their lives due to many reasons. Where safe abortion care is too difficult to access, people with an unwanted pregnancy often have no choice but to resort to unsafe abortion, one of the leading causes of maternal mortality globally.

To reduce the high number of women dying from unsafe abortion, Mozambique in 2014 legalised abortion up to 12 weeks and beyond in cases of rape, incest, and severe foetal anomalies such as heart defects. This essential care is provided free of charge. But even though abortion is free and legal, other barriers including stigma and misinformation can still make it difficult to access safe care.

Continued: https://msf.org.au/article/stories-patients-staff/stories-safe-abortion-care-mozambique

Breaking barriers to safe abortion care in Mozambique

Médecins Sans Frontières
23 January 2024

In Beira, a city on Mozambique’s central coast, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is connecting hard-to-reach communities with safe abortion care and other sexual and reproductive health services.

Mozambique has one of Africa’s most liberal abortion laws, allowing abortion on request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to 24 weeks in limited circumstances, including fetal abnormality.

Though abortion has been legal since 2014, many people still face obstacles to accessing this care, including stigma, misinformation, and corruption, such as charging for services that should be free.

Continued: https://www.msf.org/breaking-barriers-safe-abortion-care-mozambique

23.01.2024

News

abortion stigma

Médecins Sans Frontières

Mozambique: 20 Years After Maputo, It’s a Long Road Ahead to Gender Equality

Two decades on from a landmark treaty advancing the rights of African women, gender equality remains alive on paper, elusive in practice.

12 JULY 2023
By Madalitso Kateta

Magret Kawala of Mponela in Dowa district, central Malawi had always experienced the joys of motherhood and married life. But when she became pregnant while nursing a nine-month-old child Kawala's fortunes changed.

When it was confirmed that she was three months pregnant, her instinct told her she had to go for an abortion. She discussed the issue with her husband, but since surgical abortion in Malawi is illegal and only permissible when a pregnancy pauses a threat to a woman, the couple opted for a backstreet abortion.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202307130009.html

Looking back on the successes of the International Safe Abortion Day 2021

10 December 2021
FIGO Advocating for Safe Abortion Project

For International Safe Abortion Day (ISAD), marked on 28 September, the 10 national member societies FIGO supports through its Advocating for Safe Abortion Project developed educational activities and awareness-raising campaigns in their countries and communities.

“International Safe Abortion Day is about making what is often ignored – the preventable pandemic of unsafe abortions - visible. As a committed health care community we come together to demonstrate what solutions must be implemented. Together with our partners, we raise our voices to dismantle abortion-related stigma which is the enemy of women/girls’ right to claim access to safe abortion – time-sensitive essential health care. This year from Latin America to Africa we are proud to share the efforts of our OBGYN member societies, and all that they are doing to stand up for women/girls’ health care and human rights.”
– Jessica Morris, Senior Project Manager, Advocating for Safe Abortion Project, FIGO

Continued: https://www.figo.org/news/looking-back-successes-international-safe-abortion-day-2021