SAYWHAT joins the Global Community to observe the International Safe Abortion Day. A day dedicated to raising awareness about safe abortion practices, advocating for women’s reproductive rights, and highlighting the importance of ensuring access to the unmet reproductive health services. This day serves as a crucial opportunity to confront the stigma surrounding abortion and to call for policy changes that protect women’s health and autonomy.

Safe abortion is defined as a procedure carried out by qualified health professionals, in accordance with the legal and medical standards of the respective country, to terminate a pregnancy. Globally, millions of women seek abortions each year, yet many faces significant barriers to accessing safe services. In many regions, including Zimbabwe, lack of knowledge regarding legal pathways and cultural stigmas compels women to resort to unsafe methods, leading to severe health complications and even death.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that unsafe abortions contribute to approximately 47,000 deaths annually, and millions more suffer from serious health complications. Unsafe abortion is, however, an important preventable cause of maternal deaths and morbidities. It can lead to physical and mental health complications and social and financial burdens for women, communities, and health systems.

On International Safe Abortion Day SAYWHAT sheds light on the urgent need for accessible, safe, and legal abortion services as a fundamental aspect of women’s reproductive health care. We take the opportunity to amplify the ASINGADE Campaign dedicated to raise awareness on challenges linked to teen, early, and unplanned/unintended pregnancies with the goal to flag out legal frameworks and referral pathways for available reproductive health services.

The safe abortion movement believes that every woman has the right to make decisions about her own body, including the choice to terminate a pregnancy. This right is intrinsically linked to broader human rights principles, including the right to health, privacy, and non-discrimination. Moreover, countries that have liberalized their abortion laws have been observed to have positive outcomes, including reduced rates of unsafe abortions and improved health outcomes for women of reproductive age.

As advocacy efforts across the globe continue to push for the decriminalization of abortion, the removal of barriers, and the implementation of comprehensive reproductive health education; SAYWHAT will continue complementing efforts by creating supportive environments where young women can access the care they need without fear or shame. SAYWHAT encourages young women in Zimbabwe to utilize the toll-free 577 to learn about legal and safe abortion frameworks and make informed choices. 

As we observe International Safe Abortion Day, SAYWHAT also takes this opportunity to remind governments that it is vital for policies to prioritize women’s health and rights. Ensuring access to safe abortion services will result in women empowerment and gender equality. This includes:

1. Legal Reforms: Governments must reevaluate and amend laws to ensure safe and legal abortion services are accessible to all women, regardless of their circumstances.
2. Comprehensive Healthcare Access: Healthcare systems must be equipped to provide safe abortion services, including post-abortion care, counseling, and support for women who experience complications.
3. Education and Awareness: Reproductive health education should be integrated into school curricula, providing young people with accurate information to improve girls and young women’s health outcomes.
4. Support for Health Professionals: Training and resources must be made available to healthcare providers to ensure they are equipped to offer safe and respectful post-abortion care.

SAYWHAT calls upon policy makers, civil society organizations, development partners, the media, and the community to unite and advocate for a nation and world where every woman has the right to make choices about her body and reproductive health. By breaking the silence, challenging stigma, revaluating and amending our policies, we can ensure that safe abortion becomes a reality for all women, everywhere. Together, we can work towards a future where reproductive rights are upheld, women’s health is prioritized, and every individual has the freedom to choose their path.