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Abortion is a common and essential component of sexual and reproductive health care, yet social norms and stigma influence women’s decision-making and create barriers to safe abortion care. There is limited consensus on what domains constitute quality in abortion care and the opinions of people seeking abortion have little representation in current abortion quality measures. With an aim to assess the experiences of women on abortion care and reflects on the priorities for high-quality abortion care, a collaborative qualitative research was conducted in India & Kenya by IPPF in collaboration with IBIS.   Full article published in Health Policy and Planning Journal can be accessed: https://academic.oup.com/heapol/advance-article/doi/10.1093/heapol/czab065/6300625

India becomes a leading advocate for abortion rights in South Asia region The passage of Medical Abortion of Termination (Amendment) Bill 2020 in the upper house of Indian parliament is a progressive decision and victory for women’s rights. We congratulate the Indian government and the civil society. India has now become the only country in South Asia region to provide abortion beyond 20 weeks. This will have an impact beyond India’s borders-- for the region-wide movement on legal, accessible and safe abortion. The change in Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, allows to extend the upper limit for medical termination of pregnancy to 24 weeks, from the present stipulation of 20 weeks, for certain categories of women. These categories will include 'vulnerable women', rape survivors, victims of incest, pregnancies with foetal abnormalities and minors. While this win inspires us and other sexual and reproductive rights organizations, we hope action is taken to ensure all inequalities in access to abortion are addressed--- not only the polices but services are also designed to meet the needs of all.  Dr Kalpana Apte, Secretary General of Family Planning Association of India (IPPF Member Association in India), said: "The amendments to the MTP Act were much awaited and they would advance the reproductive healthcare agenda for women. The expanded access to safe abortions up to 24 weeks is great enabler helping women to exercise their reproductive rights. However, the full potential of these amendments can only become a reality if followed by appropriate systems strengthening. FPA India is committed to work towards translating these amendments as reality through grassroots level collective action."    ENDS  For media queries please contact Regional Communications Manager Himanshi Matta; [email protected]  

Meet Syeda Nasrin, Bangladeshi Supreme Court lawyer, who is determined to legalize abortion in her country. Unfazed by the threats, she is committed to ensure abortion is recognized as a human right.  According to the Penal Code of Bangladesh, abortion is illegal, except if it is done to save a woman’s life. Syeda Nasrin filed a petition in the Bangladesh High Court arguing that sections of the British colonial-era Penal Code contradict articles of the constitution. She alleged that those sections violate constitutional rights to life, body, privacy, liberty and freedom of choice, adding that giving birth to a child and accepting motherhood constitute essential parts of these rights. The High Court bench of judges Tariq-ul-Hakim and S.M. Kuddus Zaman issued a ruling on Aug. 18 2020 asking why abortion-related sections in the Penal Code of 1860 should not be declared illegal as these conflict with fundamental rights guaranteed in Bangladesh’s 1972 constitution. Her petition has motivated and brought hope to the young people and women's rights organizations in the country fighting for reproductive freedom.  IPPF spoke with Dr Syeda Nasrin to learn more about the petition and the support she requires to take this matter to the highest court.  Watch her interview   

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) welcomes the news of President Biden’s decision to keep his promise and repeal the harmful Global Gag Rule (GGR) - also known as the Mexico City Policy.    Since its expanded reintroduction in 2017 by the previous administration, the Global Gag Rule has contributed to an increase in unintended and high-risk pregnancies, unsafe abortions – culminating in unnecessary maternal deaths. For IPPF, 53 healthcare projects in 32 countries were impacted by GGR, with some Member Associations losing up to 60% of their funding.   IPPF’s Director-General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo said:    “I welcome the decision by President Biden to repeal the Global Gag Rule.    “The expanded reintroduction of the gag was callously designed to deny women the right to decide what happens to their body. Whilst we know this policy is intended as a tool to attack abortion care by the anti-choice movement, not only has it led to reproductive coercion, it has cut deeper into healthcare provision: from HIV prevention programs to maternal health to contraceptive access – no one was spared the fallout of this policy.   “What lies ahead of us is years of work to undo the harm caused by Global Gag Rule, and to build back a better and stronger relationship with the U.S. – one where our work is not under threat from future anti-sexual and reproductive health administrations. To protect the rights of future generations of women and girls, we ask that the Biden-Harris administration take the necessary steps to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule. Without a permanent repeal, the global gag remains a constant threat to women, girls, youth and marginalized communities. Reproductive rights, bodily autonomy and the human right to decide what happens to your body cannot be at the mercy of a pen stroke.   “IPPF looks on with hope and welcomes the opportunity to work closely with the Biden-Harris administration to protect and advance sexual and reproductive healthcare for all.”   And President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Alexis McGill Johnson said:  “Over the past four years, the United States didn’t just fail to support global reproductive health care access — it actively blocked it. Today, we applaud the beginning of a new chapter, as the Biden-Harris administration puts an end to the devastating global gag rule, which has prevented millions of people around the world from receiving essential health care. We look forward to working alongside the administration and Congress to pass the Global HER Act, to permanently protect access to sexual and reproductive health care across the globe from changes in White House political control. It is long past time that the United States proudly declares to the world that reproductive rights are human rights.”     IPPF would like to thank the international community who stepped in and stepped up to help fill the funding gap that was left by the Global Gag Rule. Together, we will continue to fight and deliver sexual and reproductive health and rights. -ENDS- For media inquiries please contact Regional Manager Communications, Himanshi Matta; [email protected] or [email protected] - (+44) 2079398227   

In order to capture the innovative approaches implemented by SAR Member Associations (MAs) for safe abortion services amid COVID19, IPPF SARO & CO team have collated questions and answers (Q&As) which can serve as a practical guidance to the other MAs across the federation. 

This resource aims to fill a gap in communication, reducing literacy and language barriers around abortion messaging. It can be used with a range of different audiences, including people with learning disabilities, to support the audience in the process of making an informed and consensual decision. The purpose of this is to support community health workers, young people, and others advocating for an increase in knowledge and information on abortion and reducing stigma surrounding these issues. We hope the story told here can support and be a resource for those who require more information and may need to access safe abortion services. This resource can be used on its own or alongside other IPPF resources around abortion, such as the ‘How to talk about abortion: a guide to rights based messaging’ or ‘How to educate about abortion: A guide for peer educators, teachers and trainers’. In addition, IPPF have produced videos on ‘What is a surgical abortion’ and ‘What is a medical abortion’. Publication information / Acknowledgements This guide was published in November 2020. It was developed by the Packard Abortion Stigma project team at the IPPF Central Office in London and illustrated by Public Health Illustrator, Ian Kloster. The creation process of this guide incorporated valuable feedback and insights from trained health workers, disability rights advocates and reproductive rights activists. The creators gratefully acknowledge the following organizations and individuals who provided contributions and/or reviewed the guide: IPPF Secretariat team, Change-Advonet, 2+abortions Worlwide, IBIS, Lend A Voice Africa, Dr. Gisela Berger, Sherlina Nageer and David Towell. IPPF gratefully acknowledges the support of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in developing and disseminating this guide.

Big Victory: Nepal Government approved home use of medical abortion services though certified providers ensuring access to safe abortion services during COVID-19  IPPF welcomes the decision of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Nepal to endorse and approve the final MNCH guidelines that allow home-based Medical abortion through outreach model and telemedicine. This is a life-saving decision for many women and girls in need of service but facing the mobility and accessibility-related barriers owing to COVID19.  Many congratulations to Family Planning Association of Nepal  and partner CSOs part of the Large Anonymous Donors (LAD) consortium for their contributions and partnership with Family Welfare Division, Nepal. Read more about abortion services during COVID-19: South Asia experiences https://www.ippfsar.org/resource/enabling-abortion-services-during-covid-19  

The MTP (Amendment) Bill, 2020 passed by the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) has indeed been a momentous victory for women and girls of India. The celebrations are incomplete without recognising the tireless efforts of Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) and all the Civil Society partners, activists and women who never stopped demanding women’s rights to safe and legal abortions.  IPPF applauds the Cabinet on this landmark decision which approved the bill allowing abortion up to 24 weeks. The Bill allows abortion up to 24 weeks of gestational age for vulnerable categories of women including rape survivors, victims of incest, pregnancies with foetal abnormalities and minors. Replacing the term’ married couple’ to woman and her partner highlights that the government is acknowledging the changing social fabric in the country. It also takes a positive step towards ensuring confidentiality of information for the woman, except to a person authorised in any law which is in force. The Bill can now be said to be truly woman-centric which recognizes and respects a woman’s autonomy, her choice and her rights. Dr Kalpana Apte (Secretary General, Family Planning Association of India) said: “It was a very long battle that we have fought along with other CSOs and women groups. Although, the amendments are not fully what we fought for, we are happy with many achievements. The gestation age is expanded, now unmarried women can access safe abortions and reduction in numbers of specialists required for second trimester are some of the important wins. The battle is indeed won, the fight is still on to ensure women's sexual and reproductive rights are supported and protected through enabling legislation!” IPPF Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo added: “This bill passing represents a huge shift for the rights of women in India to access safe abortion care- though there is more work to be done. This win would have not been possible without the hardwork and dedication of the Family Planning Association of India, civil society partners and activist. Let this win in India inspire other organizations and activists to continue their fight for safe and legal abortion.” While the increase in gestational limit is only for “vulnerable categories of women”, there is a need to improve accessibility to abortion service for all women who want/need it. In addition to addressing stigma, a key requirement is to increase access to safe abortion services in India – in each and every part of the country women get high quality, dignified and stigma free abortion services, only then we can claim universal health coverage for all. 

IPPF SARO, Asia Safe Abortion Partnership & Guttmacher Institute hosted a webinar to discuss new challenges in access to safe abortion care in South Asia region amid COVID-19. Experts from the region also talked about the innovative approaches to combat its impact and opportunities for the realization of safe abortion care for all. Missed it! Catch here https://www.facebook.com/IPPFSAR/posts/1377855782418506 Areas to be covered during the webinar: Evidence around policy and legal framework for safe abortion services in South Asia region and changing discourse due to the pandemic. New challenges and innovations for ensuring comprehensive safe abortion care Agenda SESSION 1: COVID-19 & ABORTION SERVICES LANDSCAPE IN SOUTH ASIA Speakers Dr Meera Upadhayay, Technical officer - Reproductive Health, World Health Organization South-East Asia Region Sophia Sadinsky, Senior Global Policy Manager- Guttmacher Institute Dr. Popular Gentle, country Director, Ipas Nepal & Avindra Mandwal, Deputy Country Director, Ipas Nepal SESSION 2: CHALLENGES FOR SAFE ABORTION SERVICES IN SOUTH ASIA: REGIONAL PERSPECTIVES Moderated by Deepesh Gupta, Sr Project Advisor- IPPF South Asia Regional Office Speakers Priskila Arulpragasam, Communications director, Youth Advocacy Network Sri Lanka SESSION 3: ALTERNATIVES AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR EXPANSION OF COMPREHENSIVE SAFE ABORTION CARE Speakers Dr Suchitra Dalvie, Co-founder and Coordinator of the Asia Safe Abortion Partnership Amalia Puri, Outreach Coordinator in Women on Web    

The unfolding COVID-19 crisis has restricted access to contraception and safe abortion services, with the poorest and most marginalised women and girls being the worst affected. It is important that women continue to have access to safe abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether they can access them safely and with dignity depends upon every one of us to rise to the challenge to provide them. During this challenging time, IPPF Member Associations are responding and adapting to this evolving situation and are committed to delivering the services to the women. In order to capture the innovative approaches implemented by Member Associations (MAs) for safe abortion services amid COVID19, interviews were conducted with two MAs from South Asia – Family planning association of India (FPAI) & Rahnuma -Family Planning Association of Pakistan (R-FPAP), on range of topics including Telemedicine, Abortion consultations and Post abortion contraceptive. IPPF team have collated questions and answers (Q&As) which can serve as a practical guidance for those working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.