FIGO joins the call to step up protection for abortion care providers

On International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, FIGO stands with partners and allies to support the launch a new set of guidelines for governments to protect frontline abortion rights defenders, including healthcare providers. 

Amnesty International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Ipas, MSI Reproductive Choices, the Organisation Pour Le Dialogue Pour L’Avortement Sécurisé (ODAS Centre) and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) have published the Key principles and actions to safeguard abortion care providers as human rights defenders, with input from FIGO. 

This important document provides a set of concrete recommendations for governments to guarantee that health professionals and other human rights defenders of the right to abortion care for women, girls and pregnant people, can do so without fear of attacks and intimidation. The publication follows the launch of an Amnesty International report in 2023 which detailed the danger and difficulties faced by those who defend abortion rights and provide access to services, including midwives, OBGYNs, doctors, nurses, doulas, activists   

“Abortion is essential healthcare. Yet, as healthcare providers we are routinely faced with discrimination and violence for simply doing our jobs. Restrictive abortion laws and attitudes cause harm. They create hostile environments that feed abortion-related stigma that smears healthcare providers and those that seek abortion care as criminals. We all know colleagues, unfortunately, who have battled with stigma, career blocking, intimidation, physical attack, imprisonment, and even in the most extreme cases health care providers have been murdered,” 

—Prof  Kihara, Anne Beatrice, FIGO President   

“Despite the global progress we have seen on sexual and reproductive health and rights over recent years, including steps to decriminalize abortion in many countries, defending abortion rights, which includes the provision of abortion by healthcare providers, remains a dangerous job,”  

—Fernanda Doz Costa, Gender, Racial Justice, Migrants & Refugees Programme Director at Amnesty International