28 September marks the annual International Safe Abortion Day. 

FIGO regards reproductive choice, including access to safe abortion services, as a basic and non-negotiable tool for ensuring the human rights of every woman and girl, not just in one region or country, but globally.

Lack of access to safe abortion results in 45% of all abortions globally being unsafe. Unsafe abortion remains a catastrophic public health problem accounting for up to 13% of maternal mortality worldwide, or around 47,000 deaths, with hundreds of thousands of survivors living with long-term complications, including infertility and chronic pain. Of these unsafe abortions, 97% take place in South and Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

FIGO is working with ten Member Societies to raise their capacity to lead advocacy on safe abortion in their respective countries. National societies of obstetrics and gynaecology are in a unique position to be national sexual and reproductive health and rights advocates due to being respected for their technical expertise and close relationships with other partners including ministries of health.

On this day each year we show solidarity with the International Safe Abortion Campaign, and our Member Societies around the world, particularly those in the countries where our Advocating for Safe Abortion Project is actively working alongside them to advocate for change. 

Discover below our most recent statements on safe abortion, and the assets for our social media campaign.