Dear Reader,

As we observed International Safe Abortion Day in September, we took ahead our conversation on access to safe abortion for everyone by analysing it from multiple social relations, including the dimensions of gender, caste, class and identity.

This year saw changes in abortion laws around the globe, with a few wins and some failures. While countries like Argentina, Mexico took a step forward by decriminalising abortion, countries like Poland, some states of USA moved way back by passing stringent law restricting access. The abortion law was also recently amended in India, which although is a step forward, but the glass is still half full.

Restrictions or criminalisation of abortion only deepens inequalities in the society by controlling an individual's autonomy and freedom of choice and increases the risk of more unsafe abortion practices. An individual's access to abortion care gives them the ability to make decisions about their own life and do it in a safe manner. Thus, having autonomy and freedom over one's own body and life is fundamental for their emancipation and society's progress.

One of the biggest hurdles we face is the lack of awareness regarding the legality of abortion in India as well as uncertainty of being able to access authentic MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) providers. We believe every person has the right to decide what's best for themselves. They should have the freedom and resources to be able to do so.

To take ahead the conversation on accessibility and bring attention to the need of improving access to safe abortion care and services, we launched a social media campaign called #SAFE that stands for #SafeAbortionForEveryone indicating people across ages, genders, financial backgrounds, and geographic locations should be able to access safe abortion without any barriers or restrictions.

We also got to hear some important views on the need for safe abortion from our eminent partners - Mr. Vinoj Manning, CEO, Ipas Development Foundation, Ms. Brototi Dutta, Advocacy Adviser for Asia, Center for Reproductive Rights, Ms. Sanjina Gupta, Founder and Executive Director, Rangeen Khidki Foundation and Ms. Vithika Yadav, Co-founder and Country Head, Love Matters India.

Change begins with an open dialogue. So, as a part of our campaign, we organised a Tweetathon activity with our partners Asia Safe Abortion Partnership (ASAP), Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), and Rangeen Khidki Foundation on 28^th September, between 12:00 - 1:00 PM IST on our Twitter platform. We discussed the need for providing access to #SafeAbortionForEveryone including how we can move from stigma to an open discourse on abortion, impact of socio-juridical conditions on access to safe abortion services for all, and the role of media in normalising abortion conversation. We also highlighted the urgent need to equalise access to safe abortion care and how a failure to do so increases the number of unsafe abortions.

Love Matters India

 

On 28^th September, 2021 Love Matters India hosted a Clubhouse event on the topic 'Is sex before shaadi the real problem?'. Pratigya Campaign along with Parivar Seva Sansthan, Sachhi Saheli, Ipas Development Foundation, Haiyya and RCSCW took part in this very interesting session to bust some pre-marital sex and abortion stigmas.

Family Planning Association of India
(FPA India)

FPA India along with the partners launched a Spotlight Webinar Series MTP Act@50- A move on the 'Right' Track? on International Safe Abortion Day, Tuesday, September 28, 2021, with the first webinar titled, 'The MTP Act (Amendment) 2021 - Fulfilling a Promise?’. Dr. Sumita Ghosh, Additional Commissioner I/C (Child Health, RBSK, AH, CAC and AD), Dr. Rathnamala Desai (President, FPA India), Mr. Vinoj Manning (CEO, Ipas Development Foundation) and Ms. Rupsa Mallik (Director, Programs and Innovation, CREA) were the key speakers and discussants along with Dr. Kalpana Apte (Secretary General, FPA India) moderating the session.

Asia Safe Abortion Partnership
(ASAP)

ASAP launched a campaign called #WhatsMyCrime - Calling for Decriminalization of Abortion with the Youth Champions, in order to acknowledge and address the hard truth, that terminating an unwanted pregnancy is still considered a criminal act in many countries. This campaign questioned why women are still imprisoned in many countries, their families taken away, their freedom restricted, just because they attempted to make a choice for their own body and their own future. Pratigya Campaign was thrilled to be a part of this very engaging social campaign.

CAG Meeting was hosted on 15^th September to share the updates about the campaign, to deliberate on role Pratigya Campaign can play in raising awareness about the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and the way forward for safeguarding individual's right to safe abortion care. With the guidance of CAG, Pratigya will continue to form strong alliances to strengthen the campaign and reiterate our commitment for ensuring access to safe abortion service for all.

This month, we celebrated World Sexual Health Day and International Safe Abortion Day through a content series around our #SAFE social campaign.

50 Years on, India's Abortion Law Still Has Serious Gaps
The Diplomat | September 29, 2021

50 वर्ष बाद भी महिलाएं अधिकार से वंचित: एमटीपी संशोधन
Dainik Bhaskar | September 28, 2021

Longer 24-week cap for MTP in special cases now in force
The Times of India | September 26, 2021

50 years and glass still half full: MTP Amendment Act still a far cry from inclusive and progressive
OpIndia | September 23, 2021

India's Family Planning: Moving the Needle from 'Control' to 'Choice'
The Diplomat | September 16, 2021

Mexico's Supreme Court Votes to Decriminalize Abortion
The New York Times | September 08, 2021

Supreme Court Upholds New Texas Abortion Law, For Now
NPR | September 02, 2021

Abortion Stops in Texas After Supreme Court Inaction
Center for Reproductive Rights | September 01, 2021

Work along with us to guarantee an equal right to safe abortion and effective healthcare for all.

Donate - Contribute to our campaign and keep the fight for reproductive rights and gender equality alive.

E-volunteer - Help us raise awareness about reproductive rights and gender equality by becoming an e-volunteer with us and contributing from your homes.

Partner with us - Come, let's work together with equal synergies to guarantee rights to universal access to safe abortion for all.

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