We believe that a woman has the right to choose and access safe abortion services and we lobby for changes in legislation to support this.

Safe abortion is one of the priority concerns of our work.

Each year, an estimated 500,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes, and almost all maternal mortality occurs in developing countries, representing one of the widest, and most unjust, health gaps between developed and developing nations.

Of the 500,000 annual maternal deaths, complications from unsafe abortion account for approximately 70,000, or 13 per cent, of all deaths.

Yet the problem of unsafe abortion extends far beyond even this appalling statistic: whether because abortion is illegal or severely restricted, or access to safe abortion is difficult for financial or geographical reasons, some 19 million women annually are forced to risk their health and lives to undergo an unsafe abortion.

Studies show that up to 80 per cent of women who have an unsafe abortion suffer illness, injury or disability as a result.

It is clear that unsafe abortion not only remains a major public health issue, but is one of the factors that must be addressed before we can hope to tackle poverty in developing countries.

While unsafe abortion is one of the most common causes of maternal deaths, it is also the most easily preventable through the provision of, and access to, safe abortion services and care.

Similarly, it is estimated that accessible and effective family planning and contraceptive services may avert up to 35 per cent of maternal deaths.

A woman’s fundamental right to decide whether and when to have a child is at the core of sexual and reproductive rights and this is one of IPPF’s central beliefs.

Access to safe abortion is a core part of that.

Our belief is strengthened by the knowledge that the mortality and morbidity associated with unsafe abortion are so easily preventable.

Evidence from many countries – from the United States to Nepal - clearly demonstrates that the legalization of abortion and the provision of family planning services dramatically cut abortion-related deaths.

IPPF has made an important commitment to scale up our work on abortion. The first step is to initiate discussion to help remove stigma, as well as cultural and religious prejudices against abortion.

Our Member Association staff and volunteers therefore play an essential role in stimulating discussion in their communities.

Information provision and education are also significant, especially giving women up-to-date information about the legal status of abortion, so that if faced with an unwanted pregnancy they can make an informed choice.

We focus on increasing access to safe abortion services for all women who require them, especially poor and young women who are often forced to resort to unqualified practitioners in unhygienic conditions.

IPPF is committed to providing – to the fullest extent permitted by national laws – sensitive, non-judgmental, affordable and high quality abortion and abortion-related services.

Where abortion is permitted we train providers in safe and appropriate procedures, including medical abortion and counselling. Our clinics also care for women suffering from injuries due to unsafe abortion.

The Safe Abortion Action Fund

Launched in 2006, the Safe Abortion Action Fund is a targeted reserve of resources to enable the implementation of programmes and initiatives to increase access to comprehensive safe abortion services, with particular regard for the needs of marginalized and vulnerable women.

The UK Government initiated the Safe Abortion Action Fund in February 2006 in response to a major new service and advocacy initiative for safe abortion developed by IPPF.

The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) elected IPPF to administer the Safe Abortion Action Fund on behalf of civil society groups and non-governmental organizations worldwide to support a range of work on unsafe abortion.

For more about IPPF and Abortion, please email info@ippf.org

Read more about the Global Gag Rule.

Read about the Council of Europe's vote on safe, legal abortion.

Notes
1. The World Health Organization defines unsafe abortion as: “a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy, either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal standards, or both”.

2. International Planned Parenthood Federation. 1996, reprinted 2003. 'Charter on sexual and reproductive rights'. London: IPPF.

3. The Global Gag Rule Impact Project: Access Denied - US Restrictions on International Family Planning, 2003