Introduction (in English)
Collaboration between people, organizations and sectors is necessary to achieve objectives related to health. In the struggle for safe abortion, the formation of alliances, collaborations, and possible synergies between pro-choice physicians, who form part to the healthcare system, and acompañantes, (feminist) activists who accompany self-managed medication abortions outside of clinical settings and who are part of an autonomous health movement, has the potential to increase access to quality safe abortions and therefore support reproductive justice.
Introducción (en español)
La colaboración entre personas, organizaciones y sectores es necesaria para alcanzar objetivos relacionados con la salud. En la lucha por el aborto seguro, la formación de alianzas, colaboraciones y posible sinergia entre personal médico pro-derecho a decidir – quienes pertenecen al sistema sanitario – y acompañantes de abortos autónomos – quienes forman parte de un movimiento autónomo de salud – tiene el potencial de favorecer el acceso a abortos seguros de calidad en beneficio de la justicia reproductiva. Sin embargo, se desconoce cómo lograr interacciones efectivas entre dos figuras disímiles.Debido a ello, el taller “Sinergias entre médicas pro-derecho a decidir y acompañantes de abortos autónomos” busca crear espacios en donde ambas comunidades pueden empezar a acercarse y explorar posibles colaboraciones y la sinergia a favor del aborto seguro y la justicia reproductiva.
It is as yet unknown, however, how to achieve effective interactions between these two dissimilar groups. The workshop “Synergies between pro-choice physicians and acompañantes seeks to create spaces where both communities can begin to approach each other and explore possible collaboration and synergy in favor of safe abortion and reproductive justice.
Specific objectives
- To create a space for listening, empathy, reflection, understanding, and solidarity from which it is possible to get to know each other, share experiences and knowledge, as well as the exploration or construction of a joint work focused on safe abortion and the support of those who provide or accompany it.
- To explore and discuss the similarities and differences in the conceptualizations of physicians and acompañantes regarding safety and quality in abortion care.
- To explore and discuss what could be the role of physicians and acompañantes in abortion processes, with full respect for the autonomy of women and other pregnant people, and to explore the ideas of physicians and acompañantes about collaboration and its potential benefits.
It is important to mention that the workshop is not intended to raise awareness about abortion; it starts from the premise that all the people who participate agree with and are in favour of abortion, with all the variety of political positions that this implies, and that they have an interest in getting involved in the struggle for safe abortion. The workshop can be used for both research and intervention purposes.
The workshop is aimed at physicians who self-identify as pro-choice and acompañantes of self-managed abortions. …. To enrich the discussions and promote the variety of experiences and ideas shared, we suggest inviting diverse participants who also come from different sectors. For physicians: private sector, public sector, civil society, etc. For acompañantes: from collectives, NGOs, those who accompany autonomously, etc.
The rest of the manual goes into the details of organising, managing and follow-up of the workshops.
I am very pleased to share this training manual (in English and in Spanish) which is a product of my PhD on this topic. The trainings have been piloted in Mexico but may be of interest to abortion rights advocates and service providers in other countries as well.
SOURCE: Manual in English / Manual en español, by Suzanne Veldhuis. Also accessible in both languages at: https://www.medicasporelderechoadecidir.org/lineamientos-y-guas-clnicas-para-el-aborto-seguro