This year, International Safe Abortion Day centers around the theme of abortion solidarity—uniting communities across borders, generations and movements to uphold the right to safe abortion and advance reproductive justice. At Ipas, we’ve spent 50 years fighting for abortion access. As threats to abortion rights persist and emerge worldwide, Ipas continues to stand in solidarity with partners and advocates in the fight for bodily autonomy.
“September 28th is significant because unsafe abortion is a public health crisis, 6 in 10 abortions in Nigeria are unsafe. With Nigeria’s restrictive environment on abortion access, unsafe abortions continue to increase, with high (negative) impacts on maternal health. Abortion rights activists must continue to channel advocacy in ensuring that quality abortion care is safe and accessible.”
“September 28 marks a significant day for abortion in India. Although abortion has been legal in India since 1971 under one of the world’s most progressive laws, misinformation, stigma, and lack of awareness continue to persist. This day serves as a reminder of our commitment to enhancing access to safe and legal abortion services, ensuring that young girls and women are informed and empowered to make choices about their own bodies.”
Here’s how Ipas teams around the world are mobilizing for #AbortionSolidarity this International Safe Abortion Day:
Across the Ipas Impact Network, regional teams are honoring this important day through a diverse range of advocacy and awareness campaigns designed to shift public perception, build support for safe abortion, and challenge abortion stigma.
Africa Alliance (Kenya and Uganda)
- A 4-day social media campaign in collaboration with Kenya Comms Hub to raise awareness and shift minds and hearts—building support for safe and legal abortion in Kenya.
- In Uganda, a high-level dialogue will be held with the Coalition to Stop Maternal Mortality Due to Unsafe Abortion (CSMMUA) and CEHURD.
- A Twitter space session focused on Uganda’s abortion legal and policy framework.
Africa Southern Region (Malawi, South Africa, Zambia)
- Digital campaign showing the abortion environment in Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
Ipas Bangladesh
- Digital media campaign explaining the abortion environment in Bangladesh.
Ipas Bolivia
- Launching the digital campaign “Nadie lo hace por gusto” (“Nobody does it for pleasure”) on social media, focusing on the diverse reasons why people seek abortions. The campaign aims to raise public awareness, break stigmas and promote safe access to reproductive rights.
Ipas Development Foundation (India)
- Conducting state-level activities sharing information on and promoting the importance of safe abortion and contraception.
- Releasing the results of a recently conducted abortion opinion survey that sheds light on public perceptions of abortion in India.
Ipas Ethiopia
- Social media campaign featuring TikTok-style videos, abortion facts vs. myths, a legal framework video, and a beneficiary story. Includes an International Safe Abortion Day message addressing the threat of the anti-choice movement.
Ipas Indonesia
- Hosting a “Mini Festival of Reproductive Justice” in collaboration with Jakarta Feminist and Dokter Tanpa Stigma.
Ipas Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
- Joining the regional “Participate to Decide” campaign led by Consorcio Latinoamericano contra el aborto inseguro (Clacai), highlighting stories of unsafe abortions and imposed maternity in high-criminalization environments. AI will be used to represent these stories creatively as an alternative to showing real people who could face stigmatization, persecution and criminalization for sharing their stories.
Ipas Mozambique
- Maputo: Workshop and digital campaigns with Rede de Defesa dos Direitos Sexuais e Reprodutivos (or Rede DSR); video and podcast (Podcast Para Elas) on safe abortion and sexual violence.
- Niassa, Nampula, Zambézia: Radio debates, talks in schools, health fairs, and workshops promoting safe abortion and family planning. A webinar on contraception as a fundamental right and discussions on Mozambique’s abortion law.
Ipas Nepal
- Running a digital advocacy campaign focused on myth-busting and pre-service educational videos.
- Collaborating with other civil society organizations for information-sharing events, alongside a candlelight vigil and flash mob to mark the day.
Ipas Nigeria Health Foundation
- Week-long campaign on legal abortion access with targeted statistics, a Twitter Space on “What if abortions were legal?” and a press release aligned with the theme.
Ipas Pakistan
- Virtual panel discussion with local reproductive health champions.
Ipas Europe
- Signed statement with the European Safe Abortion Campaign.
Global Event:
Norad’s International Safe Abortion Day webinar will feature Ipas’s global humanitarian work, highlighting our efforts in Bangladesh and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Joining global voices for abortion rights
In support of the International Safe Abortion Day, Ipas has joined a coalition of reproductive rights organizations, including the Sexual Rights Initiative and International Planned Parenthood Federation, to develop and deliver a joint statement at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. This statement calls attention to how economic and political systems impact access to essential health services like abortion and emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to protect these rights.
Stand in #AbortionSolidarity with us by signing the statement here.