International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

FIGO Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Initiative  

Funding secured: 3.9million US dollars  

From: An anonymous donor

Launched:  This project was in the process of being approved at the time of the Chief Executive joining the organisation (late 2007); the project’s implementation and reporting were closely supervised by the Chief Executive

Length of project: Two years

Background: Every year some 19 million women around the world undergo induced abortions in unsafe conditions - of these, 97 per cent take place in developing countries in Latin America, Africa and South Central Asia. An estimated 68,000 women die as a result of unsafe abortions, accounting for 13 per cent of annual global maternal deaths, while hundreds of thousands of women suffer long-term complications. Each year, about 46 million induced abortions take place. Effective interventions are well known and obstetricians and gynecologists are key actors in determining whether appropriate strategies are adopted, and in the implementation of key interventions.

Aim of project: Phase One started with a situational analysis of induced and unsafe abortion in each country, followed by the preparation of a plan of action that responds to the problems identified by the analysis. Once a draft plan was ready, it was discussed and agreed upon at a national workshop. Finally, all countries from each of the seven regions met at a regional workshop, where the plans of actions were adopted. Phase Two consisted of the implementation of the plans of action, which depended basically on the project’s focal points, with the commitment of national governments and stakeholders being a fundamental requirement. As FIGO does not have funds to support the plan’s activities, the collaboration of international organisations and agencies is necessary.

Countries involved:  54 originally: nine from South America; nine from Central America and the Caribbean; seven from Western Central Africa; seven from Eastern-Central-South Africa; six from North Africa/Eastern Mediterranean; eight from South-Southeast Asia; and eight from Eastern Central Europe.