Sichere Abtreibungen

Das internationale Ärzte der Welt-Netzwerk fordert Zugang zu sicheren Schwangerschaftsabbrüchen weltweit.

Médecins du Monde International Position on Safe Abortion Rights

The Global Impact of Unsafe Abortion

Every year, unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal death worldwide:

• 39,000 women and girls, transgender men, and non-binary people die from
  unsafe abortions.
• 7 million people are hospitalised in developing countries due to complications.

Out of the 121 million unwanted pregnancies globally each year, 60% end in abortion,
with 45% occurring under unsafe conditions causing the death of 39,000 persons each
year. These preventable deaths and injuries resulting from unsafe abortion highlight the
critical need for safe and legal abortion care.

The lack of access to safe and legal abortion is an avoidable public health emergency.
While more than 60 countries and territories have liberalised their abortion laws during the past 30 years globally, more than 40% of women still live in countries where abortion
upon request is illegal. Restricting access does not reduce the number of abortions; it
only increases the likelihood of unsafe procedures.

Criminalising abortion disproportionately harms marginalised groups, such as women
and girls in poverty, sexual minorities and migrants. Privileged individuals can often
circumvent restrictive laws, while people who are already marginalised due to multiple and intersecting factors (poverty, migration, lack of formal education, etc.) are often forced to resort to unsafe alternatives. Conversely, bodily autonomy and the right to selfdetermination are central to gender equality, influencing social, political, and economic opportunities…

Safe abortion guarantees fundamental rights

Access to abortion services is a core component of Sexual and Reproductive Health and
Rights (SRHR). Limited access to safe abortion increases maternal deaths and harms public health. A holistic approach should focus on preventing unplanned pregnancies and ensuring safe, accessible abortion when needed.

Restricting abortion undermines human rights

At the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994) and the
Beijing Platform for Action (1995) international bodies urged governments to decriminalise abortion and ensure safe and legal abortion services. Numerous treaties2 and international bodies protect the right to bodily autonomy, including the right to make one’s own decisions concerning their body, the right to life3 and the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

In consequence, restrictions on abortion undermine numerous internationally protected
rights, including the rights to life, health, equality, privacy, bodily autonomy, and integrity.

Abortion is essential to achieving social and gender equalities

Access to safe abortion is important for overcoming social and gender inequalities. It
provides pregnant individuals with the possibility for self-determination. Free access to
abortion services is especially relevant for those facing poverty, discrimination because of their gender identity or migration barriers.

Safe abortion is part of essential healthcare

Abortion as medical necessity

Safe abortion is a lifesaving medical procedure that protects individuals from lifethreatening complications of unsafe or unregulated terminations. It is a critical aspect of healthcare, ensuring the physical and mental well-being of those facing medical emergencies or unviable pregnancies. The WHO Abortion Care Guidelines (2022) recognise the medical necessity of providing safe abortion care and provide technical guidance.

MdM’s Call to Action

Through its programmes, MdM witnesses daily the severe health consequences of
restricted access to safe abortion services. MdM calls on decision-makers and healthcare
providers to ensure unrestricted access to safe abortion care through the following actions:

1. Recognise abortion as essential healthcare Decision-makers need to recognise that access to safe abortion is imperative to respecting fundamental human rights, including the right to health. Together with healthcare providers they must ensure free and unconditional access to safe abortion services since it is part of essential healthcare.
2. Ensure Comprehensive Access to Quality Sexual and Reproductive Health and
   Rights
   Ensure full access to quality SRHR services, including maternal care, family planning,
   education, and safe abortion. This holistic approach prevents unplanned
   pregnancies and provides access to safe abortion care when needed.
3. Removal of all legal barriers and regulations
   Restrictive laws and regulations that limit access lead to the deaths and injuries of
   thousands of people in need of abortion services. We call on decision makers to
   fully decriminalise abortion services and remove all regulations limiting the access
   to safe abortion services such as waiting periods.
4. Ensure equal access
   Decision makers and healthcare providers need to ensure equitable access for all
   population groups, including those facing poverty, discrimination because of their
   gender identity or migration barriers. This includes promoting self-managed
   medical abortion.

By addressing these issues, Médecins du Monde advocates for a world where safe abortion is universally accessible, affirming health, equality, and autonomy as non-negotiable human rights.