Meeting Report:  26th – 28th November 2003 London

Being brave and angry!

In a world where people and organizations are unable to even speak of abortion, IPPF and more notably young people working with IPPF, are once again at the forefront of the struggle to secure reproductive freedom for all.

Twelve representatives from all six regions of the Federation met in London to take part in the Youth Working Group meeting on Abortion.

The Youth Working Group consists of Central Office and Regional Office staff responsible for youth issues and young volunteers from various Member Associations across the regions.

Its role is to identify areas within sexual and reproductive health which require greater attention and to make recommendations for the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies which closely reflect and respond to the realities of young people’s lives.

With increasing evidence of tragedies related to unsafe abortions and the overwhelmingly destructive impact of the Global Gag rule, it seemed most appropriate that the Group addressed Young People and Abortion, primarily because of the following:

• Adolescent abortions are estimated between 1 and 4.4 million per year
• Faced with the stigma of an unplanned teenage pregnancy, some young women turn to abortion whether or not it is legal in their country
• As many young people do not have access to comprehensive youth friendly services they delay seeking advice and resort to clandestine abortions performed by unskilled practitioners under hazardous conditions
• As a result it is estimated that, in several African countries, up to 70% of all women who receive treatment for complications of abortion are under 20
• Furthermore, the risk of death during childbirth is 2-4 times higher among mothers aged 17 or younger than among mothers aged 20 or older

As the above data suggests, addressing the issue of abortion and unsafe abortion among young people is a matter of utmost urgency.

In general, abortion raises a number of critical concerns for both providers and clients which need to be clarified and addressed.

We, as advocates of young women’s reproductive freedom should adopt a rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health, emphasizing the right to non-discrimination, integrity and choice and highlighting the adverse consequences for young women where such rights are violated. 

We also need to ensure that all those working in the field of adolescent SRH should not allow their personal beliefs to interfere with their professional responsibilities.

Young people from over 12 countries attended the meeting and we believe that their energy and enthusiasm reflected an undertaking of a special moral obligation to be “brave and angry” in advocating for a universal recognition of a young woman’s right to choose and have access to safe abortion.

It is hoped that the success of this Youth Working Group meeting will inspire us all to reaffirm our commitment to reproductive rights and continue to push the boundaries of the sexual and reproductive health agenda.