Report: 2021 Global Safe Abortion Dialogue

AmplifyChange and partners hosted the first virtual Global Safe Abortion Dialogue. In this article, we share our report from the event which outlines our collective priorities for the future of the movement.

From 15 – 29 April over 650 frontline activists, service providers, policy makers and funders assembled for the third Global Safe Abortion Dialogue to share plans and perspectives on how to strengthen the global safe abortion movement.

The Dialogue took place virtually for the first time and was more diverse and inclusive than ever with more than 250 civil society organisations from 50 countries taking part in a series of 41 online sessions co-organised by AmplifyChange with our partners Ipas, MSI Reproductive Choices, Sida, and Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health. In this post we share our final summary report and collective priorities from the event.

The event combined a week of country-focused ‘Linking x Learning’ webinars hosted by regional and national activists from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin and Central America, with a schedule of Policy Dialogues to encourage greater collaboration between civil society and decision-makers from across the international abortion policy communities.

The closing session included contributions from Dr Tedros Adhenom Grebreysus, Director General of the World Health Organization and Ambassador Delphine O, Secretary General of the Generation Equality Forum 2021.

We are at a critical juncture in ensuring the right to safe abortion. Despite progress over the last four years, we have seen significant challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, shifts in funding for comprehensive abortion care programmes and push-backs on sexual and reproductive health and rights.

During the Dialogue, we saw strong commitments from government, the UN and civil society figures for expanding access to safe abortion, delivery of quality care and reproductive rights for all. This is particularly encouraging as the spotlight turns to international events such as the Generation Equality Forum in Paris from 30 June – 2 July.

We must now build on this momentum to ensure a resilient future for safe abortion advocacy, access and funding.

Download the event report

We complied a summary report of the key outcomes from the Global Safe Abortion Dialogue, including our collective priorities for the future of the movement. Please download and share this report with your networks.

Front cover image of the 2021 Global Safe Abortion Dialogue Event Report.

Report
2021 Global Safe Abortion Dialogue

How else can I get involved?

Continue the conversation: Use our social media toolkit

Don’t forget to use the Global Safe Abortion Dialogue social media toolkit to share messages of support and keep the conversation going with your networks.

Join an online community of practice

HRP, a research and development programme based in the World Health Organization’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH), has created a new online community of practice for networking and sharing resources in Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC). You can request an invitation to join the community via the IBP Network Platform. Download this information leaflet to find out more.

Share your implementation stories

The IBP Network is also calling for submissions of implementation stories on how you have used and adapted WHO guidelines and tools related to Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC). The deadline for submissions is extended until 14 July 2021. Download the information flyer to find out how to share your story.

The closing session included contributions from Dr Tedros Adhenom Grebreysus, Director General of the World Health Organization and Ambassador Delphine O, Secretary General of the Generation Equality Forum 2021