Key principles and action to safeguard abortion care providers as human rights defenders,
which Amnesty and partners launched last week.
On International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 29 November, a coalition of human rights organizations are launching a new set of guidelines for governments to protect frontline abortion rights defenders, including healthcare providers.
Amnesty International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Ipas, MSI Reproductive Choices, the Organisation Pour Le Dialogue Pour L’Avortement Sécurisé (ODAS Centre), the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) published the Key principles and actions to safeguard abortion care providers as human rights defenders.
The document provides a set of concrete recommendations for governments to guarantee that health professionals and other human rights defenders of the right to abortion care for women, girls and pregnant people, can do so without fear of attacks and intimidation.
“Despite the global progress we have seen on sexual and reproductive health and rights over recent years, including steps to decriminalize abortion in many countries, defending abortion rights, which includes the provision of abortion by healthcare providers, remains a dangerous job,” said Fernanda Doz Costa, Gender, Racial Justice, Migrants & Refugees Programme Director at Amnesty International…. [Statements by each signatory follow…]
The Key Principles include practical recommendations to:
– Prevent violations by implementing specific protection protocols and establishing channels to report harassment and receive support;
-Enable defenders to exercise their rights without fear by ensuring universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health, and decriminalizing abortion – as reinforced by the WHO’s Abortion guidelines;
-Safeguard defenders’ rights by protecting civic space and tackling abortion stigma;
-Provide redress, by stopping the criminalization of abortion defenders, and by bringing to justice those who attack them;
An Amnesty International report in 2023 detailed the danger and difficulties faced by those who defend abortion rights and provide access to services, often in challenging circumstances, including midwives, doctors, nurses, doulas, activists and all those who help pregnant people manage their own abortions with medication.
The report evidenced how many people working in healthcare settings are exposed to hostility and abuse from colleagues, employers, patients and others who oppose abortion. Those working outside health facilities are also exposed to physical and verbal attacks, threats, smears and intimidation. Some are criminalized through prosecutions, investigations and arrests. The report also documents cases of stigmatization, isolation and ostracization, and restrictions on rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. Attacks are more common in countries where abortion is stigmatized, restricted or criminalised.
SOURCE: Amnesty International, Press release for International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 29 November 2024