Kenya – Politicians and churches mobilise against abortion, but ignore mass death

Kenyan ‘pro-lifers’ celebrate recriminalisation of abortion while staying silent on country’s preventable deaths

By Betty Kabari
April 30, 2026

The right to life in Kenya is often treated as if it begins at conception and ends at birth. As in much of the world, self-described ‘pro-lifers’ claim to defend life at all costs – yet too often stop short of defending the lives already being lived, and those cut short too early.

Last week, a Kenyan Court of Appeal effectively recriminalised abortion by overturning a 2022 High Court ruling that recognised abortion as a constitutional right. The decision comes one month after Kenyan Christian groups held the ‘March for Life 2026’ through the streets of Nairobi.

Continued: https://www.opendemocracy.net/politicians-and-churches-mobilise-against-abortion-but-ignore-mass-death/

30.04.2026

Commentary

Betty Kabari

Kenya Court of Appeal

Czech abortion rates hit record lows since Communist era as tensions over rights rise

Abortion rates have dropped sevenfold since 1989, but weekend protests and sharp rhetoric signal a deepening divide over reproductive rights.

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas, ČTK
14.04.2026

Abortion numbers in Czechia have fallen to historic lows, but increasingly sharp political rhetoric and rival street demonstrations in Prague this weekend proved that growing tensions over reproductive rights remain.

Police and organizers said more than 4,000 people took part in the March for Life on Saturday, which began near Prague Castle and moved through the city center in smaller groups toward Wenceslas Square. Counter-protesters attempted to block parts of the route at several points, prompting repeated police intervention.

Continued: https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/czech-abortions-see-historic-lows-as-political-tensions-heat-up

14.04.2026

News

abortion rates in Czech Republic

Abortion Support Alliance Prague

Thousands protest in Prague for and against abortion

April 11, 2026

Thousands of people have taken part in demonstrations on abortion rights in Prague. The participants in the annual "March for Life" marched through the city center after a service in the Catholic St. Vitus Cathedral. Hundreds of mainly young protesters gathered for a counter-demonstration under the slogan "Prague is feminist". They held up signs with texts such as "Women's rights are human rights" and "My body, my choice".

The police were on site with numerous forces to prevent clashes. Five people were temporarily arrested because they did not follow the officers' instructions, a spokesperson said. According to the CTK agency, the number of abortions in the Czech Republic has been falling for decades and stands at around 15,000 per year. Women can legally have an abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy without having to give a reason. Abortions for medical reasons can be legal up to the 24th week.

Source: https://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/international/thousands-protest-in-prague-for-and-against-abortion-3184934.html

11.04.2026

News

March for Life

pro-choice counter protest

Trump administration to block foreign aid from those promoting abortion, DEI and gender identity

By MATTHEW LEE and ALI SWENSON
January 22, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is expanding its ban on U.S. foreign aid for groups supporting abortion services to include assistance going to international and domestic organizations and agencies that promote gender identity as well as diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

An administration official said Thursday that the State Department would release final rules that expand the scope of the “Mexico City” policy that has already severely reduced assistance to international organizations that provide abortion-related care. The policy was first established under President Ronald Reagan, rescinded by subsequent Democratic administrations and reinstated in Trump’s first term.

Continued: https://apnews.com/article/trump-foreign-aid-dei-gender-ideology-afbc10132dae462c368bab91671747eb

Switzerland – Thousands of anti-abortion activists march through Zurich suburb

With crosses, Christian songs and an oversized pram, around two thousand anti-abortion protesters marched through Zurich-Oerlikon on Saturday afternoon. The city police were present with a large contingent.

September 21, 2025

Dozens of police officers in full riot gear flanked the “March for Life” because left-wing extremists on bicycles tried to disrupt the “Pro Life” rally. Firecrackers were set off several times.

The police were able to prevent a clash between the groups. However, dozens tried to stop the demonstration several times, as the city police reported in the evening. They did this by blocking the road or pushing containers onto the road. The police warned the troublemakers and used water cannons and chemical irritants.

Continued; https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/demographics/thousands-of-anti-abortion-activists-march-through-zurich-suburb/90040257

21.09.2025

News

anti-abortion protesters

Gianna Jessen

March for Life

pro-choice counter protesters

UK – Pro-choice activists rage against anti-abortion march

Hundreds of pro-choice activists rallied in parliament square

By Jude Mckechnie, Socialist Worker
Saturday 06 September 2025

Several hundred people joined the Abortion Rights counter-protest against the annual “March for Life” in London on Saturday.

It was young, loud and confident, mingling with the Defend Our Juries protest against the ban on Palestine Action that was taking place in parliament square.

Around 1,000 joined the bigots’ march—smaller than previous years and annoyed that they weren’t in the square.

Continued: https://socialistworker.co.uk/news/protesters-rage-against-bigoted-anti-abortion-march/

06.09.2025

News

Abortion Rights Campaign

ban on Palestine action

pro-choice counter protest

Pro-choice protesters halt Prague pro-life march as Europe’s abortion fight heats up

This weekend in Prague saw the March for Life blocked from reaching its destination in Wenceslas Square by women's rights advocates.

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas
28.04.2025

Tensions over abortion rights flared in Prague this weekend as pro-choice activists blocked the annual March for Life, preventing the pro-life demonstration from reaching its planned destination at Wenceslas Square.

Several hundred people from both camps gathered Saturday, with police arresting about 30 pro-choice demonstrators who sat across Kaprova Street in a nonviolent blockade. No major clashes were reported.

Continued: https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/article/pro-choice-protesters-block-prague-march-for-life-as-european-abortion-rights-debate-intensifies

28.04.2025

pro-choice counter protest

European abortion fund director discusses state of affairs

Mara Clarke is a longtime abortion activist who cut her teeth in American abortion rights movement. She's helping to lead a new continent that has seen massive changes in recent years.

Cody McDevitt
Nov 23, 2024

Europe has seen challenges to abortion rights as the medical landscape has shifted, and antiabortion reactionism has limited access to the procedure or medication.

Mara Clarke, co-founder of Supporting Abortions for Everyone, an abortion fund known as SAFE for short, spoke with me about the things they’ve sought to do to address the problems brought on by bans and restrictions in different countries. She does a presentation where she dispels the notion that Europe is an “abortion utopia.” “The law is one thing, and access is another,” Clarke said.

Continued: https://reprorights.substack.com/p/european-abortion-fund-director-discusses

23.11.2024

Offences Against the Person Act

prosecuting women for abortion

SAFE

Stray Bodies documentary

Supporting Abortions for Everyone

Abortion Rights protest stands firm against bigots’ march in London

‘Go away march of spite, health care is a human right’ chanted protesters

Socialist Worker
7 September 2024

Up to 400 people joined a pro-choice protest in parliament square on Saturday to confront the bigots’ annual March for Life.

The crowd chanted, “When abortion rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back,” and, “Go away march of spite, health care is a human right.”

Continued: https://socialistworker.co.uk/news/abortion-rights-protest-stands-firm-against-bigots-march-in-london/

07.09.2024

News

Abortion Rights Campaign

Kerry Abel

March for Life

pro-choice march

Reproductive Rights Activist Collective

‘We do it because it’s the right thing to do’

Abortion care remains difficult to access in Newfoundland and Labrador, but providers are coming up with creative solutions

BY RHEA ROLLMANN
JUNE 20, 2024

It was on a cold and blustery afternoon last month. About 60 reproductive justice activists gathered outside the Confederation Building in St. John’s to defend reproductive rights.

The May 17 event was organised as a counter-rally to the annual March For Life held by anti-choice activists. But the March for Life protestors didn’t show up this year.

Continued: https://theindependent.ca/news/we-do-it-because-its-the-right-thing-to-do/