New report details urgent need to address unsafe abortion in Latin America

A new report from Ipas suggests that political, economic and social factors – notably the influence of conservative religious forces – have impeded Latin American countries’ progress in implementing the historic Programme of Action from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt.

In particular, the region’s countries have yet to implement adequately the holistic approach to reproductive health and rights that was a hallmark of the Cairo conference. The report’s authors emphasize the urgent need for more attention to the public-health crisis of unsafe abortion, which accounts for nearly one-quarter of all pregnancy-related deaths of Latin American women and represents denial of women’s right to control their own fertility.

“By and large, Latin American governments have not demonstrated the political will necessary to protect women’s reproductive rights and health,” said Marta María Blandón, Director of Ipas Central America. “Unsafe abortion is a prime – and tragic – example. Although entirely preventable, it kills and maims thousands of women and girls in the region every year."

The release of the report – titled “Cumplimiento de los compromisos adquiridos a partir de la CIPD en torno a los servicios de aborto en América Latina: La agenda inconclusa” (“Achieving ICPD commitments for abortion care in Latin America: The unfinished agenda”) – coincides with a June 29-30 meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, of the United Nations Economic Commission on Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), where a principal item on the agenda is reaffirmation of the Cairo consensus. That agreement enshrines a new approach to addressing poverty, illness and underdevelopment that includes investing in women’s health and empowerment and supports comprehensive reproductive-health education and services, including safe abortion in circumstances where it is not against the law.

Relying on review of relevant literature and a survey of key stakeholders in Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Nicaragua and Uruguay, the Ipas report identifies some important progress in addressing unsafe abortion since 1994. For example, governments and nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, in several countries are more actively highlighting the magnitude and consequences of unsafe abortion. Other encouraging developments include formulation of legislation and technical guidance related to safe abortion, improved access to legal abortion for victims of sexual violence, and introduction of new methods of fertility control, including emergency contraception.

But numerous challenges remain in ensuring that women can safely exercise their reproductive rights, particularly in regard to pregnancy termination and preventing unwanted pregnancy. Modern contraceptive methods still are not widely available or affordable, for instance, especially in rural areas. In addition, women in many areas still lack access to high-quality postabortion care, including emergency treatment for complications of unsafe abortion and postabortion contraception to help them prevent repeat unwanted pregnancies. The report’s authors also stress that safe abortion is too rarely available for circumstances in which it is legal throughout Latin America.

“The reproductive-health experts Ipas spoke with agree that commitments made in Cairo are far from fulfilled,” said Blandón, who will represent Ipas at the ECLAC meeting. “To save women’s lives, Latin American governments – along with civil society – need to resist pressure from the United States, the Church and others and make good on their promises."

At the San Juan ECLAC meeting, the United States is expected to continue its divisive campaign against reproductive-health programs around the world. At other international meetings to reaffirm the Cairo agreement, the Bush administration has worked to overturn the global consensus supporting comprehensive family planning, realistic sex education and freedom of choice. At an ECLAC meeting in March, the United States stood alone against reaffirmation of the Cairo Programme of Action and in favor of less comprehensive, less effective approaches to meeting women’s needs for reproductive-heath information and services. A growing number of organizations have signed a petition originated by Ipas which proclaims support for addressing unsafe abortion, as outlined in the Cairo consensus.

“Cumplimiento de los compromisos adquiridos a partir de la CIPD en torno a los servicios de aborto en America Latina: La agenda inconclusa,” is available in Spanish for free download on the Ipas website.

For more information, contact:
Kirsten Sherk
Senior Associate, Media Relations
e-mail: sherkk@ipas.org
phone: 919.960.5612
fax: 919.929.0258