Foreword by Gareth Thomas MP, Jan 2006
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development

Millions of women have no access to reproductive health services; many more have little or no control in choosing whether to become pregnant. As a result, every year, some 19 million women have no other choice than to have an unsafe abortion. Many of these women will die as a result; many more are permanently injured. Nearly all the women who die or are injured are poor and live in poor countries.

Preventing these deaths and injuries will not be achieved without stopping unsafe abortions which cause around 13 per cent of all maternal deaths. Virtually all the deaths of women from unsafe abortion are in fact preventable. A woman facing an unwanted pregnancy should not have to risk death through having an unsafe abortion.

Access to legal and safe abortion care - as well as to care to treat incomplete abortion or complications from unsafe abortion - would help save the lives of thousands of women every year. It would also provide a vital opportunity to ensure women can subsequently access family planning and contraception to help avoid repeat abortions.

Punitive legal measures and restricting access to safe abortion do not reduce the incidence of abortion; they just make it more dangerous. The result is that more women suffer. Not surprisingly, it is the poorest women - women least able to pay for any minimal level of care - who end up paying the highest price. I welcome this report as an important contribution to dealing with a subject where rational debate and considered action are much needed.