Terms of Reference
Solidarity in Action
The Abortion & Reproductive Justice Storytelling Challenge
1. About WGNRR
Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) is a Southern-based global network that builds and strengthens movements for sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice (SRHRJ). We work to realise the full SRHR and justice of all people, with a particular focus on those who are most marginalised.
With 40 years of experience mobilising and campaigning on SRHR issues, WGNRR’s work is grounded in the realities of people who face the greatest economic, social, and political barriers to exercising their rights. Through critical analysis and strategic action, we connect members, partners, and allies; build knowledge; organise campaigns; and share resources.
2. Background
WGNRR, together with the September 28 – International Safe Abortion Day (ISAD) Working Group, members, partners, and allies worldwide, will lead the 2026 September 28 – International Safe Abortion Day campaign under the theme:
Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care
As part of the campaign’s creative and movement-building strategy, WGNRR will organise the “Solidarity in Action: The Abortion & Reproductive Justice Storytelling Challenge,” inviting advocates, storytellers, content creators, and members of the public to use digital media to advance positive, accurate, and rights-based narratives on abortion.
The Digital Challenge will provide participants with an opportunity to translate the campaign theme and Call to Action into creative digital content, particularly through short-form video, to be published on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook. The challenge aims to encourage diverse voices, perspectives, languages, and creative approaches to abortion storytelling, while extending the campaign’s reach beyond WGNRR’s existing networks.
The Digital Challenge will be launched following Through the Kaleidoscope: Stories That Move, with the challenge potentially introduced during the workshop to connect the narrative work developed through the session with practical digital storytelling and campaign action.
3. Purpose
The Digital Challenge aims to harness the power of social media and creative storytelling to amplify the September 28 Call to Action and shift public narratives around abortion.
It will encourage participants to communicate abortion as healthcare, care, bodily autonomy, and a reproductive justice issue, while challenging stigma, misinformation, and harmful narratives.
4. Objectives
The Solidarity in Action: The Abortion & Reproductive Justice Storytelling Challenge seeks to:
- Amplify the September 28 Call to Action through creative digital storytelling.
- Shift abortion narratives by promoting abortion as healthcare and a reproductive justice issue.
- Challenge stigma, misinformation, disinformation, and harmful narratives around abortion.
- Elevate diverse voices and experiences, particularly young, marginalised, and underrepresented communities.
- Encourage multilingual and locally relevant storytelling across digital platforms.
- Strengthen solidarity and participation in advancing comprehensive abortion care.
5. Challenge Focus
Participants will be invited to create an original short-form digital story or video responding to the campaign theme:
Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care
Content may explore one or more of the following areas:
- Abortion as healthcare and a human right
- Abortion and reproductive justice
- Strengthening health systems for comprehensive abortion care
- Challenging abortion stigma, misinformation, and harmful narratives
Participants will have creative freedom in interpreting the theme and choosing a social media platform. They are encouraged to develop content relevant to their own audiences, communities, languages, and contexts.
6. Who Can Participate
The Solidarity in Action: The Abortion & Reproductive Justice Storytelling Challenge will be open globally to individuals or organisations interested in creating humane, non-judgmental, compassionate, and non-stigmatising digital content related to abortion, reproductive justice, and the campaign theme.
Participants do not need to have a large social media following. The challenge prioritises creative expression, narrative impact, relevance, and meaningful engagement with the campaign theme, rather than follower count.
7. Challenge Mechanics
| Stage | Activity / Mechanics | Proposed Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Challenge Launch | WGNRR will announce the challenge through its social media channels, website, members, partners, and allies. The announcement will introduce the campaign theme, challenge prompt, participation requirements, timeline, and recognition. | September 4, 2026 |
| 2. Expression of Interest | Interested participants will submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through a Google Form. The EOI will collect basic information, social media handle(s), language(s), and a brief pitch outlining their proposed storytelling idea. | September 4–14, 2026 |
| 3. Information Session | All individuals who submit an EOI are required to attend the Information Session to remain eligible for the challenge. The session will cover the campaign theme and Call to Action, abortion narratives, ethical and non-stigmatising storytelling, digital safety, and content requirements. Following the session, participants may refine and update their initial pitch based on the guidance provided. | September 16, 2026 |
| 4. Content Creation | Eligible participants will develop one original short-form digital story/video based on their pitch and the campaign theme, applying the guidance from the Information Session. | September 17–27, 2026 |
| 5. Publication & Submission | Participants will publish their content on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook and submit the published link to WGNRR through a designated submission form. | September 28–30, 2026 |
| 6. Final Review & Selection | WGNRR will review eligible submissions based on the agreed selection criteria, including alignment with the campaign theme and Call to Action, quality and creativity of storytelling, relevance to the intended audience, and application of ethical and non-stigmatising approaches. Content will also be reviewed for basic safety, consent, and compliance with the challenge requirements. | September 29–October 10, 2026 |
| 7. Announcement & Recognition | Twenty-five (25) storytellers will be selected for recognition based on their submitted content. Each selected storyteller will receive a USD 200 gift voucher to support their SRHR-related needs, inclusive of bank transfer fees and subject to applicable tax deductions where required. | October 12, 2026 |
8. Selection Criteria
The Top 25 Storytellers will be selected based on:
| Criteria | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment with the Campaign Theme & Call to Action | 30% | Clearly connects with Solidarity in Action and advances messages on abortion, reproductive justice, and/or comprehensive abortion care. |
| Delivery and Creativity | 25% | Presents the message in a compelling, original, and creative way that works well for their audiences. |
| Narrative Impact & Audience Relevance | 20% | Has potential to engage, inform, or shift perspectives among the participant’s intended audience. |
| Ethical, Inclusive & Non-Stigmatising Storytelling | 25% | Uses accurate, respectful, humane, and non-judgmental language and imagery, and considers consent, dignity, safety, and diverse experiences. |
| Total | 100% |
9. Content and Storytelling Guidelines
To participate in the challenge, selected storytellers must attend the mandatory Information Session on September 16, 2026. The session will provide guidance on the campaign theme, abortion narratives, ethical storytelling, digital safety, and content requirements.
Participants must create one original short-form digital story/video of approximately 2–3 minutes that:
- Aligns with the campaign theme and September 28 Call to Action.
- Presents abortion accurately and without stigma.
- Promotes abortion as healthcare, care, bodily autonomy, and/or a reproductive justice issue.
- Challenges abortion-related stigma, misinformation, disinformation, and harmful narratives.
- Uses humane, non-judgmental, compassionate, and inclusive language and imagery.
- Respects privacy, informed consent, dignity, and safety.
- Avoids exposing people to unnecessary risks, harassment, or criminalisation.
- Uses ethical and non-extractive approaches when sharing lived experiences.
- Is relevant and accessible to the intended audience, including the use of captions/subtitles where appropriate.
- Is original content created specifically for the Digital Challenge and not previously published content.
Content may be created in English or other local/regional languages. Participants are encouraged to use the language that is most relevant and accessible to their intended audience.
Platform and publication dates
Content must be published publicly on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook on September 26–30, 2026.
10. Recognition
Each of the 25 selected participants who successfully completes the challenge will receive:
USD 200 gift voucher
To support their SRHR-related needs. The amount is inclusive of bank transfer fees and subject to any applicable tax deductions, in accordance with applicable laws and WGNRR’s financial policies.
The challenge is designed as a participatory storytelling and recognition initiative rather than a ranked competition. Participants will not be ranked first, second, or third.
Ready to join the challenge?
Share your storytelling idea and be part of a global movement advancing reproductive justice.
Register for the Challenge →Have questions or need clarification?
Email communications@wgnrr.org with the subject line:
[INQUIRY] Storytelling Challenge