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International commitments and guidance on unsafe abortion.

Fred Sai1

  • 1fredsai@ug.edu.gh

African Journal of Reproductive Health
|October 19, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Restrictive abortion laws in Africa lead to millions of unsafe procedures annually. Advocating for safer abortion care requires a human rights approach, utilizing international standards and WHO guidance to reduce maternal mortality.

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Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Human Rights Law
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Many African nations operate under restrictive abortion laws, often inherited colonial legislation.
  • These laws contribute to approximately five million unsafe abortions each year across the continent.
  • High rates of maternal mortality and morbidity are linked to unsafe abortion practices.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for a shift from purely medical/health system solutions to a human rights-based approach for addressing unsafe abortions.
  • To explore how advocates can leverage human rights standards and international agreements to promote safer abortion care.
  • To integrate the World Health Organization's (WHO) new guidance for health systems into advocacy efforts.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing human rights standards and international consensus documents related to reproductive health.
  • Examination of the WHO's recent technical and policy guidance on safe abortion care.
  • Strategic review of advocacy approaches for implementing human rights principles in reproductive healthcare policy.

Main Results:

  • Identifies human rights frameworks as a powerful tool for challenging restrictive abortion laws.
  • Highlights the potential of international consensus and WHO guidance to inform and strengthen advocacy.
  • Demonstrates a pathway for advocates to push for policy changes promoting safer abortion access.

Conclusions:

  • Addressing unsafe abortions in Africa necessitates a human rights perspective, emphasizing individual self-determination.
  • Advocates can effectively utilize established human rights standards and WHO guidance to promote safer abortion care.
  • Integrating these approaches is crucial for reducing maternal mortality and morbidity linked to unsafe abortions.

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