Campaigning In Action

Ensuring access to safe abortion services is rarely as ‘simple’ as changing the legal status of abortion from illegal to legal. In very few countries is abortion completely illegal in all circumstances. Yet in many countries (encompassing about 25% of the world’s population) abortion is severely restricted and permissible only in the most extreme circumstances, for example when the life of the mother is threatened by pregnancy. Equally, where legislation is permissive of abortion, access to safe services can still be prevented by weaknesses in the health system, ignorance of the law among health workers, or by social taboos.

Choosing the most effective actions to improve access to safe abortion in any given country will therefore depend upon that country’s specific legal, social and health sector circumstances. There are a wide range of effective actions that can be taken to improve access to safe abortion services and this section of the website will aim to provide campaigners facing all sorts of legal or practical challenges with ideas, solutions and advice for taking their in-country advocacy strategies forward.

This area of the site will contain the latest news, information and comment about successes and new developments in advocating for change, a practical guide to campaigning for beginners and useful statistics and information to make a persuasive case.

Regular commissioned essays from leading advocates and campaigners will raise important issues, record the latest developments and share best practice.

As with other sections of the site, CAMPAIGNING IN ACTION will have its own latest news panel, a forum facility and a library containing the latest relevant resources.