FIGO at 70: Our journey towards improving sexual and reproductive rights with the Advocating for Safe Abortion Project
As FIGO celebrates its 70th anniversary, we mark the vital role the Advocating for Safe Abortion (ASA) Project has had in improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people in lower income and lower middle-income countries. Here we reflect on the project's evolution, successes and enduring legacy.
Building on strong foundations
The ASA Project launched in 2019 expanding on the work of the 2007 Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Initiative, A testament to FIGO's continuous commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, the project has become a vital piece of FIGO's efforts to address critical issues surrounding access to safe abortion. The ASA Project’s work focuses on implementing a dual pillar approach which supports societies to become stronger institutions and national leaders of SRHR, as well as implementing multi-pronged strategies to improve access to safe abortion.
Our work with national member societies – driven advocates, catalysing change
Through partnership with 12 national member societies in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, The ASA Project has emphasised the need for intersection of medical expertise and rights-based advocacy in diverse contexts.
All societies involved achieved fantastic outcomes as part of the project, including creating new alliances with groups like religious leaders (SOMAGO, Mali), traditional community health workers (SOGOC, Cameroon) and marriage counsellors (ZAGO, Zambia).
Some societies focused on increasing education on safe abortion within their own medical institutions and systems (SPOG, Peru), running training sessions with medical staff on comprehensive abortion care (SOGOCI, Ivory Coast), advocating to align abortion policies to the revised penal code (SOGOB, Burkina Faso) and creating an implementation checklist for guidelines (AMOG, Mozambique). Others focused on confronting stigma, running sessions such as Values Clarification Transformation Attitude with medical professionals and clinical staff (AOGU, Uganda and KOGS, Kenya).
The COVID-19 pandemic presented some barriers to project delivery, but also created new opportunities for societies to consider technology’s role in advocacy - such as how to integrate data collection on maternal health across two distinct systems (SPOG, Panama) or how telemedicine could strengthen task sharing (RSOG, Rwanda).
Finally, the project strengthened the already pivotal roles that societies held in advocating for improved legal and policy frameworks, with CNGOB in Benin submitting evidence to parliament to highlight the desperate need for greater access to safe abortion, which contributed to the revised law in December 2021.
The breadth of these achievements speak to the passion with which these societies fought for greater SRHR access in their contexts, and the leaps forward they were able to make.
“The Collège National des Gynécologues Obstétriciens du Bénin (CNGOB), together with our partners, are proud that our government has considered our clinical evidence and our first-hand insights to address the impact of unsafe abortions – a leading cause of maternal deaths and disability in Benin. CNGOB’s evidence contributed to achieving a new legally binding (October 2021) amendment positioning our country at the forefront of nations committed to strengthening women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health care.”
Dr Emmanuel Ewanignon, CNGOB Vice-President
Regional collaborations – creating spaces for African advocates
Beyond national borders, the ASA Project's influence expanded to the regional level through newly established Communities of Practice. Understanding the importance of creating spaces for advocates to learn, plan and motivate each other, FIGO partnered with SAGO and ECSACOG to establish committed networks of advocates in West Africa and East, Central and Southern Africa whose continued work delivers even greater impact in the region.
ECSACOG-FIGO Community of Practice
Comprising 10 national member societies of obstetrics and gynaecology, this active group focuses on key thematic priorities: addressing abortion-related stigma, enhancing medical curricula, preventing burnout, improving resilience and promoting self-managed abortion. They champion the Livingstone Safe Abortion Care Charter which affirms the commitment of professional societies in Africa to strengthen access to safe abortion care and leverage clinical expertise to tackle unsafe abortions across the region.
SAGO-FIGO Community of Practice
Including representatives of 20 national member societies across Francophone Africa as well as youth advocates, the Community of Practice has focussed on enhancing leadership capacity, advocacy training for safe abortion, and peer-to-peer learning and support for advocating in restrictive contexts. Both regional groups provide opportunities to share expertise and resources, and serve to provide support and motivation.
“The collaboration between FIGO and the Société Africaine de Gynécologie et (SAGO) has made it possible, in a very short time, to significantly strengthen the capacities of scientific societies in member countries in the field of leadership and the sharing of good practices. At a time when health problems require the pooling of efforts, this partnership is of paramount importance for SAGO.”
Professor Abdoulaye Sepou, Président de la SAGO
International impact – movement building with global allies
The ASA Project’s advocacy efforts have moved FIGO into global solidarity spaces via campaigns and alliances with key international partners. The project positioned FIGO to drive engagement with healthcare organisations across more than 80 countries to collectively oppose legal regression on abortion in the USA, support countries through amicus briefs, and release statements with the FIGO Committee on Safe Abortion - including on the call for decriminalisation.
FIGO’s involvement in the Defending Frontline SRH Defenders and Amnesty International’s campaign to defend abortion providers has elevated the voice of healthcare professionals, as we join global partners to collectively move forwards towards protection and accountability.
FIGO’s long-standing collaboration with the WHO saw the ASA Project working internationally and nationally to drive forwards dissemination and implementation of the 2022 Abortion Guidelines. An abortion supplement published in IJGO in 2024 was another successful collaboration between guest editors from WHO and FIGO, with publications showcasing positive stories on progress in abortion access from across the globe. Building on from FIGO’s work with trainee associations WATOG and IFMSA calling for the inclusion of family planning and abortion care in the medical curriculum, the project is also supporting efforts to implement the WHO’s recent toolkit for competency-based curriculum for family planning and comprehensive abortion care globally.
Working with reproductive justice and legal partners, FIGO has submitted evidence to United Nations (UN) bodies. For example, on the important topic of conscientious objection, FIGO produced a statement and webinar, paving the way for a submission of evidence to the UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, which influenced their decision to write a position paper on the topic. FIGO will continue to work with critical partners on such topics, while celebrating heathcare professionals who are conscientiously committed to serving women and girls.
“FIGO is a critical ally in the delivery of time-sensitive essential health care to women, girls and newborns. FIGO’s unique ability to leverage its obstetricians and gynaecologists members, research, first-hand insights and clinical best practice, founded on human rights standards, is ever more critical if we are to give oxygen to the words ‘access to sexual and reproductive health a reality for all’.”
Dr Bela Ganatra, Head of the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Unit, World Health Organization
What's next?
Looking forward, FIGO will continue to work with member societies, partners and colleagues to achieve a world where everyone can access safe and equitable sexual and reproductive health care services. With a current focus on West Africa, the project will continue to share the unequivocal message that abortion is health care and leverage its global medical expertise to speak on this issue. The ASA Project stands out as an example of FIGOs unwavering commitment in the global fight for sexual and reproductive rights and with courageous colleagues around the world, and we will continue to advocate until these rights are met.
“My fellow OBGYNs and health care workers: may you never forget your power and duty to stand as allies to defend the right of all women and girls to access safe abortion – time-sensitive essential health care.”
Prof Kihara Anne-Beatrice, FIGO President 2023-2025
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