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

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 – Safe Abortion Legalization Urged to Reduce Maternal Mortality

Oct 14, 2024
Malawi24

Authorities emphasize that legalising safe abortion can significantly reduce maternal mortality rates. Every year, countless women lose their lives to unsafe abortion procedures.

This comes as the world commemorated the International Safe Abortion Day on 28 September 2024.

Source: https://malawi24.com/2024/10/14/safe-abortion-legalization-urged-to-reduce-maternal-mortality/

Malawi – Legal restrictions fail to stop unsafe abortions – COPUA

May 21, 2024

Despite current legal restrictions, unsafe abortions are still widespread in Malawi as over 100,000 abortions take place every year, country-wide.

Citing the research results by the College of Medicine and Guttmacher Institute which shows that over 141,000 abortions happened in Malawi in 2015 alone, Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (COPUA) Vice Chairperson, Dr Amos Nyaka wants the law process to continue.

Continued: https://www.nyasatimes.com/legal-restrictions-fail-to-stop-unsafe-abortions-copua/

Malawi: Youths in Mzuzu, Nkhatabay Endorse Abortion Bill

28 NOVEMBER 2020
Nyasa Times (Leeds)
By Phillip Pasula

Youths from Mzuzu and Nkhata-Bay have spoken in support of the proposed Termination of Pregnancy Bill, saying if passed it will help in safeguarding their sexual reproductive health rights.

The youths sounded their concerns at Ilala Crest Lodge on Thursday where they had a meeting as part of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence for the year 2020 which begins from 25th November to 10th December.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202011290054.html

Malawi: Lawmaker Ngwale Urges Malawi Youth to Lobby MPs for Abortion Bill Support

28 SEPTEMBER 2020, Nyasa Times (Leeds)

By Green Muheya

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Mathews Ngwale has challenged the youth in the country to lobby their members of Parliament to support the Termination of Pregnancy Bill also known as the Abortion Bill when it is tabled in Parliament.

Ngwale, who is expected to move the motion on the bill as a private member motion, said Malawi has lost a lot of young girls and women who could have lived if the laws had not been prohibitive.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202009290109.html

Malawi: NGOs Urge Malawi’s New Leader to Promote Human Rights

3 July 2020
Centre for Solutions Journalism (Blantyre)
By Glory Msowoya, Mana

Centre for Solutions of Journalism (CSJ) has urged the new administration of the State President Dr Lazarus Chakwera to prioritise the advancement of human rights for all the citizens.

"We urge the new administration to promote and defend human rights for all the citizens without discrimination based on including region, tribe, religion, gender, sex or sexual orientation," said CSJ executive director Brian Ligomeka.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202007030229.html

03.07.2020

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News

Brian Ligomeka

Centre for Solutions Journalism

Coalition of Prevention for Unsafe Abortion

Malawi: NGO Urges Government to Advance Abortion Law

3 July 2020
Malawi News Agency (Lilongwe)
By Glory Msowoya

Blantyre — Centre for Solutions of Journalism (CSJ) has urged the Tonse Alliance led government to look into abortion law reforms and to enact the proposed bill which should deal with unsafe abortion among girls and women.

The CSJ made the call on Wednesday in Blantyre during a day-long training on sexual and reproductive health for traditional and religious leaders from Blantyre and Chiradzulu as the organization said human rights should be the government's priority for its citizens without discrimination.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202007030447.html

Addressing stigma while moving a national campaign: Spotlight on Malaw

Addressing stigma while moving a national campaign: Spotlight on Malawi

Posted June 4, 2019
by inroads Comms, with Andrew Mdala, Boniface Mbewe, Francis Makiya and Mackson Harawa

In this Spotlight, Mackson Harawa, Francis Makiya, Boniface Mbewe and Andrew Mdala, four inroads members, tell us more about the barriers or stigma that still need to be addressed in addition to fighting for legal reform in Malawi.

Although some liberal religious clerics and communities have given a nod to the need for a reform of the abortion law in Malawi, what are the many other socio-cultural obstacles that are yet to be combatted?

Boniface Mbewe (Chipembere Community Development Organization– CCDO): In Malawi there are still many socio-cultural obstacles hindering access to safe abortion services in health facilities. These obstacles include: condemnation emanating from cultural and religious beliefs as the person undergoing the abortion is perceived as sinner. For instance, some believe that abortion is an act carried out by non-believers, sex workers and promiscuous girls in the society; attitude, stigma and discrimination among health service providers towards the people seeking abortion or post-abortion care services also prevent women from seeking services; the legal implications associated with current laws around safe abortion do not necessitate the availability and accessibility of the services to those in need of them. The cost of abortion services and distance to get them (pre-and post-abortion services) are some of the challenge women are facing in Malawi.

Continued: http://makeinroads.org/making-inroads/2019/June/addressing-stigma-while-moving-a-national-campaign-spotlight-on-malawi

Malawi: NGOs Build Capacity of Malawian Lawyers to Undertake Abortion Litigation

Malawi: NGOs Build Capacity of Malawian Lawyers to Undertake Abortion Litigation

5 April 2019
By CSJ Reporter

Litigation is one strategy that can result in clarification of current vague abortion laws, which are perpetrating violation of women rights, a reproductive health champion has said.

Nyale Institute of Reproductive Rights executive director Godfrey Kangaude said this in eastern Malawi's resort town of Mangochi on March 29 when he opened a two-day training on public interest litigation for lawyers.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/201904050976.html

05.04.2019