Francophone Africa

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There are more than 1.8 million unsafe abortions in West Africa each year. An assessment of abortion care needs and opportunities in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa conducted in 2015 found there is “a vast unmet need” for comprehensive abortion care services in the region. Even though most countries have legal provisions for abortion—such as to protect the life and health of the woman and in cases of rape, incest and fetal abnormalities—in many countries these laws have not been translated into actual services for women. There also are strong cultural, religious and political opponents to comprehensive abortion care, in addition to other barriers, such as stigma and lack of awareness of the legality of abortion.

In collaboration with national, international and community-based partners, Ipas’s Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa regional program is working with eight Francophone nations—Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo—to overcome political and cultural barriers and significantly expand programs providing safe abortion. Ipas also works with diverse partners to train and educate legal professionals, youth activists and leaders in sexual and reproductive health and rights to build a network of committed champions for safe, legal abortion.

Leadership: Dr. Bilguissou Balde

Office: Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Safe abortion training in DRC.

MAY 2023

BIG win in Benin:

Safe abortion access for women in Benin is now effective!!!

Ipas Afrique Francophone and le Centre ODAS are proud to play a significant role alongside all the stakeholders of the safe abortion movement in Benin for the Beninese government to guarantee women’s rights and access to safe and legal abortion services.

‘Benin now recognizes what the U.S. denies’

A report in the New York Times hails Benin’s 2021 abortion law as “one of the most liberal laws on abortion” in Africa. Working with a diverse group of partners, Ipas Francophone Africa helped lay the groundwork for the law change and is now working with those partners and the Ministry of Health to implement it. Ipas Francophone Africa Director Bilguissou Balde notes in the article that, with the overturn of Roe v. Wade in the United States, “Benin now recognizes what the U.S. denies.” 

A bold step forward: Benin’s new abortion law

MAY 22

In a historic move, Benin has legalized abortion in most circumstances and now has one of the most liberal abortion laws in Africa. This Q&A with Dr. Bilguissou Balde, director of Ipas Francophone Africa, looks at the law’s impact on abortion access and the steps Ipas is taking to ensure that the promise of the law is fulfilled.

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