Ahead of 28 September, International Safe Abortion Day, we want to flood Twitter timelines with demands to governments around the world to ensure access to safe abortion. Join us on Twitter for 14 days of action, starting 14 September 2020, to bring access to safe abortion to your national government’s attention leading up to 28 September! We are calling on you all to ‘@ Your Government’!
HOW TO:
1. Choose which key decision-maker(s) you wish to target via Twitter. This could be the minister or ministry responsible for abortion provision and/or those with a wider SRHR or gender equality portfolio, e.g. a Health Minister or Minister for Gender Equality.
2. Write your tweet: Mention (@) the relevant target account with your demand for access to safe abortion in your country or region. You can quote tweet the dedicated post on @safe_abortion’s account (available from 14 Sept) or write your own tweet.
3. Make sure you include one of the dedicated hashtags #IManageMyAbortion and/or #28Sept in your tweet.
4. (Optional) Reply to your own tweet with a request for a formal statement from the government in light of 28 September 2020.
Here are some demands/key messages:
● We call on all governments to set aside laws and policies restricting access to safe abortion and allow the use of telemedicine and self-managed abortion in line with WHO guidance.
● Universal access to safe abortion should be guaranteed by every State, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. This requires full decriminalisation of abortion.
● Medical abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) are on the WHO Essential Medicines List. They should be included on all national Essential Medicines Lists and approved for use as abortifacients. Please consider adding them!
● Governments should provide accurate information on medical abortion to help women make informed decisions and minimise risks to women’s health.
● Please allow the use of telemedicine and self-managed abortion with pills in safe conditions to uphold and protect reproductive rights.
● Policy change is long overdue, in order to prevent an increase in unwanted pregnancies, births, and unsafe abortions. Reform / Legalise [use as appropriate] our abortion law [or] decriminalise abortion now!
● Universal health coverage should be expanded to cover safe abortion care and post-abortion care in all settings. Governments have committed to the SDGs, which should include safe abortion policies and programs.
● As per your commitment to the SDGs, it is important to include access to safe abortion as directly linked to SRHR to achieve the SDG 3 and 5:
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
3.1 Reduce global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births
3.7 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services
3.8 Achieve universal health coverage (access to quality essential health care services, access to safe, quality and affordable essential medicines)
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights
For further information on 28 September, please visit: