Central America

© CATHOLICS FOR THE RIGHT TO DECIDE NICARAGUA

In Central America, Ipas works in one of the most restrictive legal environments for abortion in the world. Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador have complete abortion bans; in El Salvador, women are imprisoned for suspected abortions; and in Guatemala and Panama, abortion is permitted only in limited circumstances. A high rate of sexual violence in these countries contributes to a high rate of unwanted pregnancy, thereby forcing women and girls to either carry pregnancies against their will or else seek clandestine and often unsafe abortions that put their health and lives at risk.

Ipas has been working with partners across the region since the late 1980s to make safe, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care more widely available. We also work to position abortion as a human rights issue and show how restrictive abortion laws violate international treaties ratified by Central American countries. By incorporating a human rights perspective into university-level health sciences curricula, Ipas and key partners aim to build a new generation of health-care providers who are advocates for sexual and reproductive rights. Since Nicaragua’s abortion ban was enacted in 2006, Ipas has collaborated with partners to build a movement in support of repealing the ban. Similarly, Ipas collaborates with partners in El Salvador to support the growing movement for legal abortion there, and supports programs and organizations in Guatemala, Panama and additional countries with efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The case of Beatriz in El Salvador shows dangers of abortion bans

Before the end of 2023, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights is expected to rule in the case of Beatriz, a young woman from El Salvador who needed an abortion to protect her life and health but was denied this care because of her country’s total abortion ban. The Court’s ruling could benefit women in El Salvador and across the region.

‘She had done nothing wrong’

How abortion rights advocates cleared the name of Manuela in a landmark case in El Salvador
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Ipas videos on abortion with pills attract almost a million views

Ipas Central America and Mexico (Ipas CAM) created two informational videos in Spanish on how women can safely self-manage an abortion using pills. The unexpected popularity of the videos shows just how badly this information is needed.

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“I’ve always believed that laws should be made in accordance with the health needs of women.”

– Ipas’s Guillermo Ortiz, an OB-GYN from El Salvador
Read his story

About Us

We work with partners around the world to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception.

Ipas Sustainable Abortion Care

Our Work

The global movement for legal, accessible abortion is growing. Our staff and partners in countries as diverse as Bolivia, Malawi and India are working to ensure all people can access high-quality abortion care.

Where We Work

The global movement for legal, accessible abortion is growing. Our staff and partners in countries as diverse as Bolivia, Malawi and India are working to ensure all people can access high-quality abortion care.

Resources

Our materials are designed to help reproductive health advocates and professionals expand access to high-quality abortion care.

For health professionals

For advocates and decisionmakers

Training
resources

For humanitarian settings

Abortion VCAT resources

For researchers and program implementors