Blogposts
Rwanda has expanded young people’s access to contraception
Earlier this month the parliament in Rwanda lowered the legal age for accessing reproductive health care from 18 to 15 years old.…
Why I work on reproductive justice in Nigeria
I believe every person has the right to live free from violence, and shame, and to make informed choices about their body and future.…
What Are We Celebrating? Pan-African Women’s Day Amid Reproductive Injustice
Women are dying from unsafe abortions not because we lack the tools to save them, but because we lack the political will to trust them.…
“SAAF is not just a donor but a catalyst for change.”
We share the results from an external evaluation of SAAF’s funding of organisations committed to safe abortion access.…
“I would love to see people have the right to safe abortion.”
If I heard about someone having an abortion I used to judge her for committing a sin. But now I understand it’s normal.…
“The current abortion law is not giving a chance to women.”
If a woman wants to have an abortion she will find a way. Here in Malawi, most will resort to backstreet abortions which endanger their lives. …
“Abortion law reform is long overdue in Malawi.”
No girl should die because of unsafe abortion. I want to see the bill passed to expand the legal right to safe abortion for more people.…
“Abortion is a class issue in Malawi.”
Everybody thought that abortion is completely illegal in Malawi. A big part of our work is educating people about the law and their rights.…
Girls in Cameroon desperately need access to sexual health information
Many adolescent girls do not understand their bodies and cannot make informed decisions about their sexual health.…
Abortion stigma is not natural
Abortion stigma has been constructed and propagated by certain groups of powerful people – often with ulterior motives.…
Girls in Zimbabwe deserve access to safe abortion
The High Court ruled that a law denying access to abortion for those under 18 and married women raped by their husbands is unconstitutional.…
Reflections at 50: A journey of perseverance and hope
What is true about my journey is that anger, fear, and frustration can be transformed into collective power.…
We wish US politics didn’t have such a big impact on global abortion access, but it does
It’s extremely likely that one of the first things Trump will do when he takes office is block aid for organisations working on, or supporting, abortion.…
The spread of anti-abortion narratives in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Anti-abortion groups are running counselling centres designed to dissuade women from having abortions.…
What images should we use to represent abortion?
Images of abortion should show the reality of this being a normal part of life.…
Restricted abortion access is a form of gender-based violence
Limiting safe, legal abortion not only violates bodily autonomy but places women’s health, safety and even lives at risk.…
What does a Trump presidency mean for global reproductive rights?
Women and other marginalised communities help each other to end pregnancies safely – we always have, and we always will. …
Abortion in Türkiye: Legal but not available
Our research shows that only about 4% of public hospitals in Türkiye actually provide abortion services.…
Tamtang champions access to safe abortion
“With continued advocacy and support, we can create a future where every woman has the right to make informed choices about her own body.”…
The power of global abortion rights solidarity
International Safe Abortion Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the need for a globally connected movement for reproductive justice.…
How to support abortion storytellers
How can we make sure that when we share stories about abortion, we do so in a way that is impactful but also ethical? …
Why we’re fighting to change the abortion law in Ecuador
We are confident that Ecuador is ready to join the almost 80 countries that have removed abortion from their penal codes.…
Improving abortion services in Kyrgyzstan
With the introduction of telemedicine abortion Kyrgyzstan is advancing reproductive health and overcoming barriers to essential services. …
The Perfect Storm: Unsafe Abortions in Ugandan Schools
The silence surrounding unsafe abortions among schoolgirls is a stark reminder of the inequalities and injustices faced by young women. …
Improving accessibility to abortion care for rape survivors in Cameroon
The abortion law in Cameroon allows for legal abortion under certain conditions, including where the pregnancy is a result of rape.…
Giving power back to women: Transnistria embraces telemedicine abortion
We are proud to have introduced telemedicine abortion to the Republic of Moldova, and now to Transnistria.…
The voices of women and girls living in IDP camps in Nigeria
Women and children make up the majority of those living in the camps, and they suffer from a lack of food, security and healthcare.…
Lesbian Day of Visibility and Abortion Access
Lesbian Day of Visibility isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being heard, valued, and celebrated for exactly who we are.…
Female sex workers speak up for abortion rights in Uganda
As a feminist network of grassroots Female Sex Worker led groups we know that sex workers are disproportionately affected by unsafe abortion.…
The (feminist) joy of abortion work
The ability to choose our reproductive destinies, and support others to do so, can be a source of great promise, freedom, and even joy.…
Georgia has introduced dangerous new restrictions to abortion access
Though abortion is legal on request in Georgia, new amendments introduce additional obstacles to accessing the procedure.…
How accessible is abortion in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Abortion is available on request up to 10 weeks in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, access to services is limited in a number of ways.…
Empowering young advocates for safe abortion in Nepal
All our Youth Champions take part in an intensive ‘abortion boot camp’ where they learn safe abortion advocacy skills.…
The musings of a disability abortion doula in Kenya
As a social worker and abortion doula, I receive many cases of girls with disabilities in need of abortion services in Kenya.…
Feminist reproductive justice and the fight against gendered violence
How gender-based violence manifests itself through the restrictions that exist to limit our reproductive decisions. …
Can we make global meetings more ethical and impactful?
We think it’s important to provide abortion rights activists with safe spaces where they can speak openly.…
Why we no longer ask grantee partners to ‘count’ abortions
Our aim is to increase the number of people who have the option to choose safe, dignified abortion care if and when they need it.…
The global abortion rights movement is unstoppable
On International Safe Abortion Day we celebrate the incredible achievements of global abortion rights activists.…
Fighting for reproductive justice in Zimbabwe
Unsafe abortion is contributing to the high maternal mortality rate in Zimbabwe.…
Harm reduction in adolescent sexual and reproductive health
AOGU explains how they employ a harm reduction approach to support young people in Uganda with unplanned pregnancies.…
A mother’s cry for help: we need safe, legal abortion in Sierra Leone
WHRRO urges the government of Sierra Leone to enact the safe, legal abortion bill and work towards creating a society where women’s reproductive health is a priority.…
How SAAF is addressing power dynamics in our funding
SAAF aims to be a supportive and fair donor. Here are some of the ways we work to try to remove barriers for the organisations we fund.…
A Fund for Social Justice in Mexico
SAAF board member Eugenia López Uribe recalls co-founding Fondo MARIA in Mexico – the first abortion fund in Latin America.…
When abortion stigma intersects with LGBTQ+ stigma
SAAF grantee partner 3W explains why the fight for reproductive freedom is inextricably linked to the fight for LGBTQ+ equality.…
Abortion in Mexico: legal, safe and free?
SAAF grantee partner Di RAMONA outlines the obstacles to accessing safe, free, legal abortion services in Mexico.…
Bisexual women are more likely than heterosexual women to have abortions
Research from around the world shows that pregnancy and abortion are not just experienced by heterosexual, cisgender women.…
Colombia takes another step towards more accessible abortions
A year ago today, Colombia decriminalised abortion. SAAF partner Si Mujer shares how a recent government resolution is another win for abortion rights.…
Why we advocate for the right to access safe medical abortion in Nigeria
SAAF grantee partner GIWYN explains why they advocate for the right to safe and legal abortion, and support self-managed abortion in Nigeria.…
New safe abortion app to be launched in the MENA region
SAAF grantee partner RAWSA has developed an app to provide advice and support on sexual and reproductive health to people in the MENA region.…
Indonesia’s new Criminal Code strengthens abortion provisions but threatens democracy and human rights
Indonesia recently introduced a new Criminal Code which restricts promotion of contraception and criminalises sex outside of marriage.…
Abortion, sex and pleasure
SAAF has endorsed the Pleasure Principles as we believe it’s crucial to think about sex, and pleasure, when it comes to abortion.…
Safe abortion is legal – but still inaccessible – for young people in India
The YP Foundation carried out an audit of abortion services in India and found that young people are still not receiving the high-quality, unbiased care they deserve.…
Speaking about abortion saves lives
SOSFEC works to reduce rates of unsafe abortion in South Kivu, DRC.…
Making Unsafe Abortion History in Uganda
SAAF grantee partner COHERINET works to reduce unsafe abortion in Uganda.…
What does the overturning of Roe V Wade mean for global abortion politics?
The Supreme Court decision to remove the constitutional right to abortion will have a catastrophic impact on millions of people in the US. Increased legal restrictions to abortion will inevitably…
Germany finally removed an unnecessary barrier to safe abortion
On Friday, 24 June 2022, the German parliament removed an existing ban on advertising abortion services. They voted to scrap Section 219ª, which prohibits the disclosure of factual information about…
Mama Sophia: A Life Changing App
The Mama Sophia app provides information on reproductive health in a free, accessible and confidential manner.…
Trans Visibility and Access to Abortion
Trans men face specific barriers to abortion access in Bolivia. Manodiversa has carried out research to find out more.…
Access to abortion under lockdown in India
Millions of safe abortion services were affected by the COVID-19 lockdowns in India. Sama is working to improve the situation for women in marginalised communities.…
Abortion has been decriminalised in Colombia
by Fundación Si Mujer We are celebrating amazing news in Colombia, where, on 21st February 2022, the Constitutional Court voted to decriminalise abortion. Thanks to Causa Justa, a coalition of…
Criminalisation of Abortion in Kenya
By Linda Wanjiru Kroeger, KELIN Imagine being jailed for up to 14 years for trying to end your pregnancy because a morally driven political system deems this to be a…
Young Women’s Lack of Access to Information on Safe Abortion in Zambia
Copper Rose Zambia works to make a difference in the lives of women and girls by educating them about their sexual and reproductive health rights. This includes our Safe Reproductive Health Awareness…
How MAMA Network is Making Safe Abortion Accessible in Sub-Saharan Africa
On this International Safe Abortion Day, we are reminded that the right to safe abortion should be at the core of achieving gender equality – enabling everybody to fully exercise their…
Agility in Abortion Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Uganda
Hello world, I’m Mirembe Mariam from Uganda. I work as Programs Manager at an organization called COHERINET, with five years’ experience working on abortion related projects. COHERINET is a non-profit organization…
Legal Yet Stigmatized: Abortion Care in Nepal
Nepal legalized abortion in 2002. With the recent adoption of “The Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Act” in 2018, the country has taken huge strides for the fulfilment…
How to Protect and Respect the Reproductive Rights of LGBTI+ Individuals
Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. A day when the world acknowledges the ongoing discrimination faced by LGBTI+* people around the world, but also offers solidarity and hope for positive change. As a global…
Current Threats to Safe and Legal Abortion in South Africa
South Africa’s Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA) was enacted 25 years ago. It aims to repeal restrictive and inaccessible abortion laws and promote reproductive rights and freedom of…
Fighting Unsafe Abortion and Abortion Stigma in Sierra Leone
This blogpost speaks to the national burden of unsafe abortion in Sierra Leone. Those who are most vulnerable and least able to access safe services largely bear the cost. Millions…
How We’re Improving Safe Abortion Access in Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan, the law says you can have an abortion on request up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. After that, it’s still available but for ‘social reasons’ which need to…
Girls Break the Silence About Sexual Assault and Abortion in Somalia
Content warning: r*pe, sexual assault I love Puntland, in its little corner of Somalia. I love the people who fight through famine, war and division. The ocean that laps its…
How COVID-19 is Affecting Access to Abortion in Georgia
If you Google “abortion in Georgia” you may see news about the State in the U.S – where there are often threats to provision of abortion care. Here in Georgia the…
The Abortion Law in Thailand is Being Improved, But It’s Not Enough
As feminist campaigners we are glad that the abortion law in Thailand will be liberalized early next year, and proud that our organization has been a part of this. However, if it…
What does the U.S. election result mean for global reproductive rights?
“When the U.S sneezes, the rest of the world gets a cold”. This is what Moses Mulumba recently said on a webinar to discuss the impact of the U.S. presidency…
Accessing Abortion During a Pandemic – Where Are We Now?
Since the huge global impact of the coronavirus pandemic first became apparent at the start of this year, many of those working in sexual and reproductive health care have noted increased…
My Hope to Save Lives Through Abortion Law Reform in Malawi
Tears flowed from my eyes when pallbearers lowered the coffin into the grave. I could not understand why the hospital had refused to offer my niece a safe abortion whose…
Accessing Safe Abortion during Lockdown in Africa
We have seen how pandemics negatively impact access to reproductive health services, especially access to safe abortion. As the pandemic spread globally, MAMA Network saw a growing demand for self-managed…
What does COVID-19 mean for Young Women in the Kibera Slum?
COVID-19 has forced countries around the world to take unprecedented measures to combat the rapid spread of the virus. Although the pandemic affects all of us, it has hit people in…
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-damental Rights in Kenya
Imagine waking up one morning with a really bad flu. Your immediate recourse would be to take fluids and maybe some medication. Should a sore throat develop, you might take…
Nurses & Midwives Can Make Abortions Safer in India
In India, abortion under certain conditions has been legal for almost five decades. You would imagine that further legalising abortion would make it safer and more accessible for all. However,…
Moving Closer to the Legalization of Abortion in Argentina
The feminist movement is about to achieve a historic conquest in Argentina. After years of struggle and social debate, President Alberto Fernandez has announced the introduction of a bill for the Voluntary…
India just made its Abortion Laws more Accessible
Last week, the Indian Cabinet increased the upper limit for the termination of pregnancies to 24 weeks. This is a huge relief for many across the country. Previously, people have been…