Sierra Leone debates decriminalizing abortion as women and girls endanger their lives

By CAITLIN KELLY
March 24, 2025

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — When she got pregnant at 16, Fatou Esther Jusu was terrified that it would derail her future.

Abortion is illegal in Sierra Leone. Fearing judgment from her family, she took friends’ advice and bought misoprostol, a drug whose uses include abortion, from a local pharmacy. It didn’t work. Desperate, she tried again and miscarried.

“I went to the toilet… and the baby came out,” she said. She fainted and was taken to a hospital, where she pleaded with doctors not to tell her parents.

Continued: https://apnews.com/article/sierra-leone-abortion-legalize-health-77dd89c92bfea5ed84db2d42acbebc5d

Trump’s assault on human rights, bodily autonomy and democracy

January 25, 2025
Ipas

Late on Friday, January 24th, President Trump doubled down on his administration’s anti-abortion policies, reinstating the harmful Global Gag Rule, rejoining the non-binding Geneva Consensus Declaration (GCD), and strengthening the Hyde Amendment.

“These actions add up to a violation of human rights, bodily autonomy and democracy, as well as an unprecedented attack on the reproductive rights of people in the U.S. and across the globe,” says Ipas President and CEO Anu Kumar.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/trumps-assault-on-human-rights-bodily-autonomy-and-democracy/

Uganda – Hundreds receive free medical as Interim Advisory Committee on East Africa Pro-Choice Movement holds health and legal camp in Isingiro

NELSON MANDELA | PML Daily Reporter
October 9, 2024

SINGIRO – Annet (not real name), a young woman from Isingiro, Uganda, found herself in a precarious situation last December. Despite being unprepared for motherhood, she became pregnant. Feeling uncertain and scared, she hid the news from her partner and turned to abortion tablets recommended by a friend.

“A friend recommended abortion tablets, which I used. I bled that night and assumed the pregnancy had terminated.”

Continued: https://www.pmldaily.com/features/health/2024/10/hundreds-receive-free-medical-as-east-african-advisory-committee-on-abortion-campaigns-for-reproductive-justice-in-uganda.html#google_vignette

09.10.2024

News

Dynamic Doctors

Natukunda Jennifer

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Restrictive Abortion Laws Worsening Nigeria’s Maternal Death Rates, As Experts Seek Amendment

By Chioma Umeha
Sep 11, 2024

LAGOS – Experts are sounding the alarm that restrictive abortion laws in African nations, particularly Nigeria, are likely to exacerbate maternal death rates. Historical data from Romania indicates a significant decline in abortion-related deaths following the repeal of such laws, with rates dropping from 34 per 100,000 to less than 1 per 100,000. South Africa has seen similar improvements after easing restrictions.

The ongoing enforcement of restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria and other African countries is expected to lead to increased maternal mortality, complicate teenage pregnancies, and inflict emotional distress on women and children. Additionally, these laws are projected to disrupt women’s economic productivity, resulting in increased time away from work and further economic challenges.

Continued: https://independent.ng/restrictive-abortion-laws-worsening-nigerias-maternal-death-rates-as-experts-seek-amendment/

Nigeria – Expert Recommends Data for Promotion of Sexual, Reproductive Health, Rights

By Olubunmi Osoteku, Lagos
On Aug 30, 2024

A medical expert, Professor Adesegun Fatusi, has recommended the need for data-driven actions for bringing about tangible results in the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The expert disclosed that the fight against unsafe abortion and other sexual reproductive health issues remains a challenge due to conflicting voices on the matter.

… Highlighting that many individuals speaking out on abortion are driven by emotions, lack of data, misinformation, and imagination, Fatusi stressed that a shift towards evidence-based decision-making is crucial to addressing the challenge effectively. He said: “By allowing data to drive actions, interventions can be implemented with clear outcomes that everyone can understand.”

Continued: https://von.gov.ng/expert-recommends-data-for-promotion-of-sexual-reproductive-health-rights/

30.08.2024

Academic for Health Development

Adesegun Fatusi

Guttmacher Institute

John-Paul Akinduro

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Namibians Support Women’s Autonomy, Sex Education, and Access to Contraception, but Are Divided On Termination of Pregnancies

27 August 2024
By Christiaan Keulder and Lizl Stoman

Most citizens say girls who get pregnant should be allowed to continue their education.

Key findings
Namibians strongly support women's and girls' autonomy in making decisions about whether and when they should marry (80%) and about the timing and number of children to have (81%). Support for women's autonomy is particularly strong among women, young citizens, and more educated respondents.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202408280011.html

27.08.2024

News

Abortion and Sterilization Act 2 of 1975

Child Care and Protection Act of 2019

comprehensive sexuality education

Convention on the Rights of the Child

public support for abortion

sexual and reproductive health and rights

SRHR

support for women's autonomy

Young advocates are ‘a formidable force’ for abortion access globally

August 6, 2024
IPAS

Working for a world where every person has abortion access is a longstanding passion for David Imago-Jácome. An accomplished advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), adolescent wellbeing and youth participation, he currently serves as the director of YIELD Hub, which works to empower young people and promote their SRHR.

On July 1, Imbago-Jácome became a member of the Ipas Board of Directors—a full-circle moment, as he first collaborated with Ipas as a young medical student in Ecuador on reproductive rights advocacy trainings for himself and his fellow students. He went on to work as a medical doctor and began the advocacy work that he continues today.

Here he shares how he began his journey as a young advocate and what inspires him most about the next generation.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/young-advocates-are-a-formidable-force-for-abortion-access-globally/

06.08.2024

Interviews/Podcasts

David Imago-Jácome

International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations

Ipas

Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health

sexual and reproductive health and rights

YIELD Hub

Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights

Uganda – The Sabotage Movie Premiere: A Film with a Social Cause

JAVIRA SSEBWAMI | PML Daily Staff
February 16, 2024

The long-awaited premiere of Sabotage took place last night at the Century Cinemax Acacia Mall in an elegant affair attended by players in Uganda’s arts industry, representatives from development organisations, celebrities and film enthusiasts.

Brought to life by Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) in partnership with Sauti+ Media Hub and Nabwiso Films, the film is directed by Mathew Nabwiso and stars Stella Natumbwe, Sharifa Ali, Jjemba Dean Austin, Denid Kinan and others in a rollercoaster drama set around a traditional wedding (‘kwanjula’) exploring sexual violence, abortion and tradition to raise awareness around Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Uganda.

Continued: https://www.pmldaily.com/features/entertainment/2024/02/the-sabotage-movie-premiere-a-film-with-a-social-cause.html

16.02.2024

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Rwanda – Student arrested after fetus is found in dustbin on campus

Jean d’Amour Mbonyinshuti
07 December 2023

Following the arrest of a student whose baby was found dead in a dustbin, university staff of the University of Rwanda’s college of arts and social sciences have been trying to restore calm on the campus.

The baby was found near the women’s hostel on 1 December and has prompted an immediate investigation by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau, which secured the area and blocked access in and out of the hostel.

Abortion is illegal in Rwanda and, if found guilty, a woman may face imprisonment for one to three years or a fine of RWF50,000 (US$40) to RWF200,000.

Continued: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20231206203000428

07.12.2023

News

Ignatius Kabagambe

Rwanda Investigation Bureau

sexual and reproductive health and rights

Türk urges progress on ‘unfinished agenda’ of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights

19 October 2023
BY Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

(delivered at UNECE Regional Conference to mark the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development “Population and Development: Ensuring Rights and Choices”)

…When the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development was agreed to by States in Cairo 30 years ago, it promised a profound impact on the lives of women and girls.

It promised them the power to make decisions about their own lives, their bodies, and their futures – rights which should have, in the first place, been non-negotiable.

Continued: https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements-and-speeches/2023/10/turk-urges-progress-unfinished-agenda-womens-sexual-and

19.10.2023