This archive report was first published on 14 November 2019.
On November 14, 2019, the debate on legalising abortion reached a fever pitch at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Pro-choice advocates, including the International Campaign for Women Rights to Safe Abortion, argued that legalising abortion can significantly reduce maternal mortality rates.
Dr. Shilpa Shroff, the director of the International Campaign for Women Rights to Safe Abortion, stated, 'If people want to be bound by religious norms, it is okay. If you have a law on safe abortion, it does not mean every woman will be forced to do it.'
However, Dr. Ernest Nyamato of IPAS, an organisation that provides safe abortion services, pointed out that religious and cultural norms are often the root cause of stigma surrounding abortion.
He shared a poignant example of a teenage girl who was asked invasive questions about her parents when she sought medical attention for a pregnancy, highlighting the need to combat stigma and promote safe abortion practices.
The recent gag rule imposed by the US President Donald Trump's administration has further exacerbated the issue, with Kenya at risk of increased cases of unsafe abortion.
Despite these challenges, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has committed to increasing services for safe abortion and awareness of sexual rights, particularly in Africa, South East Asia, and Latin America.
Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, the Director General of IPPF, stated, 'Accelerate universal access to safe abortion by expanding the provision of quality and women-centered comprehensive abortion care.'
The debate on abortion is complex, with conflicting laws in countries making it difficult to determine the legality of abortion. Dr. Anna Gonzalez, an activist from Columbia, noted that even in countries where abortion is legal, it can still be criminalised in certain circumstances.
The ICPD has committed to reducing maternal mortality, and the debate on legalising abortion is a crucial aspect of this effort.
