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#MyBodyMyChoice
SOCIAL MEDIA
TOOLKIT
#MY
BODY
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ICE
SRHR
OVERVIEW
Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) – including access to sexual and reproductive healthcare and information, as well as autonomy in sexual and reproductive decision-making – are human rights; they are universal, indivisible, and undeniable. Such rights are grounded in other essential human rights, including the right to life and health, the right to equality and non-discrimination, the right to privacy, the right not to be subjected to torture or ill-treatment, and the right to determine the number and spacing of one’s children.
Provision of safe, accessible and legal abortion services is a crucial aspect of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and essential to safeguarding women’s health, rights and well-being.
The ‘My Body, My Choice’ campaign aims to break the silence around abortion by bringing key audiences together and promoting conversation
#MY
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ICE around SRHR and abortion. The campaign, which starts on 10 September 2018, aims to create
awareness among women and young girls in India – about their abortion rights and how they can realise them – while also cultivating new-age champions for the cause.
This social media toolkit is for use by partners and allies to share information about abortion and SRH, and to rally behind a united movement for ensuring all women and girls can exercise their right to choose and have access to essential SRH services they need.
In the toolkit you will find a range of suggested hashtags, social media themes and posts placed in the following order:
PartnersHashtagsOther handles you can tagSuggested social media themes and postsSharegraphics
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Asia Safe Abortion Partnership @asapasia
We The Women @WeTheWomenAsia
Family Planning Association of India @FPA_India
Ipas Development Foundation@IDFtweetz
Love Matters India @lovemattersinfo
Center for Reproductive Rights@ReproRights
Youth Ki Awaaz@YouthKiAwaaz
Pratigya #PratigyaCampaign
India HIV/AIDS Alliance@AllianceinIndia
PARTNERS GHS facilitated handle: @myright_2choice
#MY
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ICE HASHTAGS
Primary hashtag:#MyBodyMyChoiceSecondary hashtags:#SafeAbortion#SRHR #ReproductiveJustice #SafeAbortionSavesLives #OurBodiesOurFight#LetsTalkAbortion Campaign Handle: @myright_2choice @myright2choice
#MY
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ICE OTHER HANDLES YOU CAN TAG
>International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion @Safe_Abortion>IPPF @ippf>Women on Waves @WomenOnWaves_>World Health Organization @WHO >WHO South-East Asia @WHOSEARO >UN Women India @unwomenindia >UN Women Asia Pacific @unwomenasia>UNDP India @UNDP_India>Sept28Abortion @Sept28Abortion >Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights @WGNRR>Guttmacher Institute @Guttmacher
>Guttmacher-Lancet Commission @SRHRCommission
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Theme 1: Launch/Introduction to the Campaign
Theme 2: SRHR and Abortion
Theme 3: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 and Amendments to the Act
Theme 4: Conflation in the implementation of the MTP Act, 1971, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
Theme 5: The Right to Privacy and the Right to Choose
SUGGESTED SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND THEMES
Theme 6: Stigma and Abortion
Theme 7: Solutions to Increasing Access to Safe Abortion in India
Theme 8: September 28
Theme 9: Let’s Keep the Movement Alive
TIMELINE2 3 5 6
Awareness aboutsafe abortion, MTP Act
and its limitations, PCPNDT and POCSO
Acts, and right to privacy
Personal stories
Stigma
Campaignintroduction and
awareness about safe abortion, the MTP Act
and amendments
Right to privacy, section 5 and the status
of abortion in India
Awareness about the con�ation in the
implementation of the MTP, PCPNDT and
POCSO Acts, and the need for amendments
Solutions toincreasing access to
safe abortion in India, right to privacy
Awareness about safe abortion, MTP Act and amendments, POCSO
and PCPNDT Acts
Highlights from September 28
Personal stories
Stigma
Keep the movement alive (last week of
campaign)
10th S ept(PHASE I )
11th–21stS ept (PHASE I )
4
Campaignpromotion
The right to choose and solutions to increasing access to safe abortion
in India
22nd–27thS ept (PHASE I I )
29th S ept–25thOc t (PHASE I I I )
28th septINTERNATIONAL SAFE
ABORTION DAY
L AUNCHPOST
L AUNCH
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India legalised #abortion 47 years ago. Yet, 10 women die every day due to #UnsafeAbortions. Join us in the movement to ensure more women are not compelled to seek unsafe abortions. Watch this space for more. Follow us at @myright_2choice. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortion
#SocialStigma compels women to seek #UnsafeAbortions. This leads to medical complications and even deaths. Join us in challenging #AbortionStigma in India on 10 September. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
Autonomy in sexual and reproductive decision-making is a human right. Join us on 10 September to ensure #ReproductiveJustice for all women. Follow the conversation at @myright_2choice. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortion
#DYK the #MedicalTerminationOfPregnancyAct permits abortion up to 20 weeks? Join the #MyBodyMyChoice campaign @myright_2choice to know more about abortion in India. #SafeAbortionSavesLives
The autonomy to terminate an unwanted pregnancy safely is an essential part of women’s #SRHR. Join the #MyBodyMyChoice campaign to advocate for a woman’s #RightToChoose. Starting 10 September 2018 @myright_2choice. #SafeAbortion #ReproductiveJustice
@(add partner handle name) has joined the #MyBodyMyChoice movement. Follow the link to be a part of the campaign to ensure more women and girls don’t put their lives in danger by seeking unsafe abortions. #SafeAbortionSavesLives
Theme 1: Launch/Introduction to the Campaign
#MY
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ABORTION
Access to #SafeAbortion is critical for women’s #ReproductiveHealth. Let’s ensure all women have access to basic #SRH services. Join us today at @myright_2choice. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
#DYK if performed safely, abortions are safer than childbirth? Women in India still struggle to access safe abortions, which causes thousands of preventable deaths every year. Join the campaign on #MyBodyMyChoice today to advocate for better access to #SafeAbortion services.
Theme 1: Launch/Introduction to the campaign
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Abortion is a common medical procedure. 15.6 million abortions took place in India in 2015. Watch this space for more on abortion in India and the importance of #SafeAbortions. #MyBodyMyChoice
According to the Supreme Court, abortion is a personal decision, one which only a woman should make. Don’t wait to act. Join us @myright_2choice to make the #RightToChoose a reality for women in India. #MyBodyMyChoice #RightToPrivacy
We must intensify our efforts to save the lives of women and girls by providing access to comprehensive #SRH services, including #SafeAbortion. Let’s ensure #ReproductiveJustice for all women, starting today! @myright_2choice. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
Join us in creating an environment that enhances access to #SafeAbortion services for women and girls in India by advocating for rights-based reproductive health policies. #MyBodyMyChoice
Theme 1: Launch/Introduction to the campaign
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A woman’s right to #ReproductiveJustice includes her right to access essential #SRH services like safe abortion and contraception. Better access to #SRH services can delay the first birth, prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce unsafe abortions. #MyBodyMyChoice
Provision of safe, accessible and legal abortion services is a crucial aspect of #SRHR and essential to safeguarding women’s health, rights and well-being. Let’s ensure all women have access to basic #SRH services. Join us at @myright_2choice. #MyBodyMyChoice
#DYK according to @WHO abortion is one of the safest medical and surgical procedures when managed by trained providers? Join the conversation on the need to increase access to #SafeAbortion. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
Theme 2: SRHR and Abortion
Rightto
Choose
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#DYK almost half of abortions globally are unsafe due to limited access to trained providers and safe services? Access to #SafeAbortion is a human right. It should be available to every woman and girl, everywhere. #MyBodyMyChoice
When women can’t access legal abortion services, they resort to unsafe abortion services by back-alley providers. Many women suffer serious health complications and tragically, many die. It ’s t ime to change this. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives #NormaliseAbortion
Autonomy in sexual and reproductive decision-making, including #SafeAbortion is a human right, and should be universal, indivisible and undeniable. #ReproductiveJustice #MyBodyMyChoice #RightToPrivacy
Theme 2: SRHR and Abortion
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#DYK a woman above the age of 18 does not require anyone but her and the physician’s consent to get an abortion in India? J o i n t h e # M y B o d y M y C h o i c e m o v e m e n t @myright_2choice to advocate for a woman’s #RightToChoose. #MTPAct
#DYK according to the #MTPAct abortion in India requires the consent of one registered medical practitioner up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and of two registered medical practitioners between 12 and 20 weeks? Post 20 weeks, a woman can still access abortion if there is a threat to her life. #MyBodyMyChoice
#DYK #MedicalAbortion is legal up to 7 weeks of pregnancy in India? It is one of the safest, easiest and cheapest medical procedures if performed with the appropriate know-how. Click here to know more. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortion
Theme 3: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 and Amendments to the Act
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#DYK Section 5 of the #MTPAct allows a provider to terminate a pregnancy at any point to save a woman’s life? #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
#DYK the #MTPAct was last amended in 2002? It is time the law is amended to ensure women have the #RightToChoose. Watch this space for more. Join the #MyBodyMyChoice movement now.
Abortion is legal in India under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. It is legal, but still not a right of women in the country. A woman cannot get an abortion solely on her request. It is time to change this. #MyBodyMyChoice #ReproductiveJustice
It’s been over a year since a 10-year-old rape survivor was denied #ReproductiveJustice. Women and girls across the country continue to struggle to access safe abortions post 20 weeks of pregnancy. Amend the law. It’s time. #MyBodyMyChoice
The MTP (Amendment) Bill, 2014 addresses key barriers to accessing safe abortion services. Join us to rally for these amendments! #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
Theme 3: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 and Amendments to the Act
#MY
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ICE Theme 4: Conflation in the implementation of the
MTP Act, 1971, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
As per the #PCPNDTAct, sex determination is illegal. As per the #MTPAct, abortion is legal. It is time to de-link the two issues. #MyBodyMyChoice
Limiting access to #abortions is not the answer to the problem of gender-biased sex selection. It can be tackled only by education and promoting gender equality. By restricting access to #abortions, we are only restricting access to #SafeAbortions. #MyBodyMyChoice #PCPNDTAct
#DYK as per the #MTPAct, the identity of the girl seeking an abortion has to be kept confidential? But under the #POCSOAct, every case of under-18 pregnancy must be reported to the police as a case of sexual assault, compromising the girl’s identity. #MyBodyMyChoice
Under the #POCSOAct, if a minor seeks an abortion, the provider must report it to the police as a case of sexual assault but cannot refuse to provide the services. Know your rights. Abortion is legal for all women and girls in India. #MyBodyMyChoice
The conflict between the #POCSOAct and #MTPAct must be addressed urgently to ensure young girls do not resort to #UnsafeAbortions in India. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
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The Supreme Court has placed a woman’s freedom of choice whether to continue her pregnancy or not, under the #RightToPrivacy. It is her body. It should be her decision. #MyBodyMyChoice.
Denying women access to necessary health-care is discriminatory and a violation of their #HumanRights. All women must have the #RightToChoose. #MyBodyMyChoice
We must support the right of every woman to freely decide if, when, and how many children she wants. It is her body. It should be her decision. #MyBodyMyChoice #RightToChoose
Theme 5: The Right to Privacy and the Right to Choose
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#AbortionStigma continues to limit access to #SafeAbortion for many unmarried women and young girls in India. Fight #AbortionStigma and ensure women have the #RightToChoose. #MyBodyMyChoice #ReproductiveJustice for all.
#DYK stigma particularly associated with young girls and unmarried women seeking abortions, compels them to seek #UnsafeAbortions? Fight #AbortionStigma. #MyBodyMyChoice #ReproductiveJustice
Theme 6: Stigma and Abortion
#MY
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Access to Safe Abortion in India
When a woman is denied the right to terminate her pregnancy, she is robbed of her agency and her right over her own body. We must make #SafeAbortion services accessible to all women and girls, irrespective of their ethnic, social or economic status. #MyBodyMyChoice #ReproductiveJustice
#MyBodyMyChoice is not just a clarion call for women, but a responsibility for each one of us. For a stronger, safer and healthier tomorrow, we must unite to ensure that every woman has the right to quality #SRH services. #MyBodyMyChoice #SafeAbortionSavesLives
Ensuring increased awareness about #SafeAbortion services is critical to enable women to make informed decisions about their health and well- being. #MyBodyMyChoice #KnowYourRights
Let us respect every individual’s right to decide what is best for them and their health. Support women’s #RightToChoose today! #MyBodyMyChoice
#MY
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ICE Theme 8: September 28
Join us on #Sept28 to break barriers and address the stigma and challenges surrounding #abortions to ensure #ReproductiveJustice for India’s women and girls. #MyBodyMyChoice #LetsTalkAbortion
We support the right of a woman to make her own sexual and reproductive choices. Do you? Join us on #Sept28 to fight for every woman’s #RightToChoose. #MyBodyMyChoice #LetsTalkAbortion
In a world where access to healthcare is an established human right, women still struggle and die every day due to lack of #SafeAbortion services. Join the #MyBodyMyChoice movement on #Sept28. #LetsTalkAbortion
#AbortionStigma limits access to #SafeAbortion for many women in India. Let’s fight abortion stigma and ensure women have the #RightToChoose today on #Sept28. #MyBodyMyChoice #LetsTalkAbortion
Join us in raising awareness about the importance, legalities and avenues for accessing #SafeAbortion services and the hazards of unsafe abortions. Together we can increase women’s access to #SafeAbortion services. #Sept28 #MyBodyMyChoice #LetsTalkAbortion
Women’s right to access safe abortion services is an inalienable part of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Join us on #Sept28 to demand increased access to #SafeAbortions #MyBodyMyChoice #LetsTalkAbortion
#MY
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When we restrict abortions, we only restrict women’s access to #SafeAbortions. Safe abortions are an inalienable aspect of women’s health and right to make decisions about their #ReproductiveHealth. #MyBodyMyChoice
Abortion was legalised in India almost half a century ago, yet unsafe abortions — performed in unhygienic conditions by untrained providers — are the third largest cause of maternal deaths. Let’s make #SafeAbortions a reality. #MyBodyMyChoice #AmendtheMTPAct
#DYK that 78% women seek abortions outside of health facilities? Let’s pledge to ensure #SafeAbortion is prioritised so that no woman is denied quality abortion care. #MyBodyMyChoice #WomensHealthMatters
Women in India continue to lose their lives due to illegal and unsafe abortions. Don’t wait. Act Now. Advocate for increasing access to #SafeAbortion and ensure #ReproductiveJustice for all. #MyBodyMyChoice
The #MTPAct amendments will take us one step ahead in empowering women of India with the choice to make decisions about their bodies. Let us ensure no woman or girl in India struggles for a #SafeAbortion. #MyBodyMyChoice
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MTP Act is amended
Limitations and gaps within the MTP Act,1971 are identified2006
3
MTP (Amendment) Bill, 2014 submittedto the Prime Minister's Office by theMinistry of Health & Family Welfare 2014
4
20022
Prime Minister's Office sends the MTP(Amendment) Bill, 2014 back to theMinistry of Health and Family Welfare2017
5
2017 6
Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Act is passed
The Supreme Court of India in a landmarkjudgment on the fundamental right to privacy
notes “A woman’s freedom of choice whether tobear a child or abort her pregnancy are areas
which fall under the right to privacy”.
TIMELINE OF THE MTP ACT, 1971These MTP amendments are extremely crucial and will go a long way in reducing deaths due to unsafe abortions and help in increasing access to safe abortion services.
19711
ABORTION IN INDIA
ABORTION INCIDENCE IN INDIA
FACILITY-BASED ABORTIONS
In 2015, 15.6 million abortions occurred in India. i78% of these were outside of health facilities.
This means only 5% of all abortions were obtained from public health facilities, the primary source of healthcare for poor and rural women.
A shortage of trained sta� and inadequate supplies are the main reasons that primary and community health care centres are unable to provide abortion services.
In health facilities (3.4 million)Medication abortion outside health facilities (11.5 million)Outside health facilities and through probably unsafe methods (0.8 million)
Public health facilitiesPrivate facilitiesNGOs
Abortion is a maternal, sexual and reproductive health and rights issue
SAFE ABORTION SAVES LIVES
81% of abortions were medication abortions and 14% were surgical
Half of the 48.1 million pregnancies in 2015 were unintended and one-third ended in abortion
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ABORTION IS LEGAL IN INDIAunder the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971
3
1 Continuation of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the life of the pregnant woman or cause grave injury to her physical or mental health
Substantial risk that the child, if born, would be seriously handicapped due to physical or mental abnormalities
Pregnancy is due to the failure of contraceptive in a married woman or herhusband ( presumed to constitute grave injury to mental health )
4 Pregnancy is caused by rape ( presumed to cause grave injury to mental health)
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH A PREGNANCY CAN BE TERMINATED
One medical practitioner upto 12 weeks of pregnancy Two registered medical practitioners if a woman's pregnancy is between 12 and 20 weeks.
AN ABORTION CANNOT SOLELY BE PERFORMED BASED ON A WOMAN’S REQUEST. IT REQUIRES THE OPINION OF:
2
GLOBAL INCIDENCE
UNSAFEABORTIONS
25MILLION
56 MILLION ABORTIONSBETWEEN
2010-2014
8 MILLIONIN LEAST SAFEOR DANGEROUSCONDIT IONS
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LAWS THAT IMPINGE ON AWOMAN’S ACCESS TO SAFE AND LEGAL ABORTION
A clamp down on MTP centres and medical providers, by goverment officials and the police, has led to fear among providers which often
leads to denial of services to young girls and women
Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic
Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994
Misconception thatall abortions are for
sex selection / all abortion are illegal
Conflicts with the confidentiality clause
of the MTP ACT
Medical Termination ofPregnancy (MTP) Act,
1971
Allowstermination of
pregnancyunder
certain conditionsKeeps the
identityof the
womanconfidential Treats all pregnant girls under
the age of 18 as rape survivors and mandates the
provider to report the caseas sexual assault
Protection of Childrenfrom Sexual
Offences (POCSO)Act, 2012
Prohibits use of technology, such as ultrasound for the purposes of
sex determination. Prohibits asking for or disclosure of sex of the foetus or advertising for
such a service
WHAT IS MEDICAL ABORTION?What drugs are used for Medical Methods of Abortion
(MMA)?Medical abortion is a non-surgical way of terminating pregnancies through a combination of drugs.
The most common medical method of termination is a combination of Mifepristone and Misoprostol.
Is it legal in INDIA?
Medical abortion is legal in India up to
of pregnancy. However, the drugs can only be sold on
prescription.
What are the benefits of MMA?It requires no anaesthetic;
The procedure is non-invasive;
There is greater privacy than with a surgical abortion;
As a non-surgical procedure, there are no surgical risks associated with medical abortion;
You are at home and can have the support of friends and/or family if you choose;
It can feel 'more natural', as it is similar to having a heavy period or miscarriage.
7 weeks
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Limited awareness thatabortion is legal in India
Gaps and limitations in the MTP Act
Stigma around pre-marital sex
and provider bias
Lack of awareness around the provisions of the PCPNDT Act, 1994, which prohibits the misuse of diagnostic techniques for sex determination
Conflict with the POCSO Act, 2012 – the law to protect children from sexual abuse – which contradicts with the confidentiality clause of the MTP Act
Dearth of trained abortion providers
Limited awareness aboutthe provisions of the
MTP Act, 1971
WHAT YOU CAN DO
ADVOCATE INFORM AND EDUCATE
For the adoption of theproposed amendmentsto the MTP Act
For improved andequitable access tocomprehensive safe abortioncare, including medical abortion
For increasing access byimproving infrastructure andensuring adequate number oftrained service providers
For better training of providers and health workers
For Improving datacollection at the stateand district levels
By disseminating accurate inforrmation on the provisions
of the MTP, PCPNDT and thePOCSO Acts among providers
and government officials
By de-linking sex selectionand abortion, and addressing
misconceptions among providersand government officials
By raising awareness aboutthe legal status of abortion
and other Sexual andReproductive Health services
By developing programmesto reduce stigma around un-
married women and young girlsaccessing safe abortion services
By addressing genderdiscrimination and inequalityto promote the value of girls
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I’ve just discovered that I’m pregnant, despite
using contraception. My husband and I can’t
a�ord to raise a child right now. I don’t know
what to do.
Don’t worry, under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, you can get an
abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.. Really? I didn’t know that
abortion is legal in India.
It most de�nitely is. A pregnancy can be terminated if it harms your mental and
physical health. Under this Act, pregnancies resulting from rape and contraceptive
failure in married women can also serve as grounds for termination. Moreover, a
woman can request an abortion if there is substantial risk that the child, if born, would
be seriously disabled due to physical or mental abnormalities.
Oh! Can I just go into a clinic and demand an
abortion? Or do I need someone’s permission?
You only need a doctor’s con-sent until the �rst 12 weeks of pregnancy, and two doctors’ consent between 12 and 20
weeks. However, minors (indi-viduals under the age of 18) also need the consent of a
guardian.
What about those who cross the 20-week limit?
According to the Act, providers can provide an abortion after
the 20-week limit only to save a woman’s life
Since 1971. It has almost been 50 years. However, it is not a right of a woman yet
What does that mean?
It means that a woman cannot walk into a facility and demand an abortion.
She needs to take the consent of one doctor in the �rst 12 weeks and of two doctors between 12
and 20 weeks.
That must be changed! There is a dearth of
trained providers in our country, especially in remote areas of the
country, which means getting consent of two providers in the second trimester must be di�-
cult for women
You know, I recently got to know that abortion is
legal in India?
Really? Since when?
Yes. The MTP (Amendment) Bill, 2014 addresses most of these problems. Here is a list of challenges that the amendments address: • Allow abortion on request of the woman until 12 weeks• Increase the gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for rape survivors• Remove the gestation limit in case of foetal abnormalities• Reduce the number of physician opinions required from two to one in the second trimester• Expand the base of legal medical abortion providers to include Ayurveda, Yoga andNaturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) practitioners, AuxiliaryNurse Midwives (ANMs), and nurses• Remove the word ‘married’ from the clause on contraceptive failure as a condition forseeking abortion
These are great! Theseamendments will go a long way in giving women in our country
autonomy and control overtheir bodies!
Some foetal anomalies can only be detected
after the 20-week gestation limit. Rape survivors also often
detect their pregnan-cies at a later stage or may hesitate to come
forward because of stigma associated with
rape
Is anything being done to address these
challenges that women face?
You are right. Additionally, unmarried women cannot
cite contraceptive failure as a reason for seeking an
abortion! Apart from this, the 20-week gestation limit poses several di�culties for
women, especially those with foetal abnormalities
and rape survivorsHow
is that?
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MYTH: Having an abortion
pregnant in the future.
FACT: A safely conducted abortion does not cause
subsequent fertility problems. Fertility can return as soon as two weeks after an abortion.
MYTH: Emergency contraception can cause an
abortion.
FACT: Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy but cannot cause an abortion if a woman is
already pregnant.
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MYTH: Women would not need to have abortions if they used
contraception.
FACT: Individuals may not be able to access contraception,
choose not to use it, or experience contraceptive
failure since no method is 100% effective. They may also have been in situations of coercive control by partners or become
pregnant through rape.An estimated 33 million women worldwide using contraception
will experience unintended pregnancies each year.
MYTH: Women commonly experience feelings of intense
grief, regret or depression after abortion.
FACT: Women experience a whole range of emotions
following an abortion. However, evidence suggests that a
majority of women do not regret having an abortion.
Those who campaign against legal abortion often talk about
something called “post-abortion stress/syndrome” – a disorder
that is not evidence-based.
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FACT: Abortion is a very safe procedure when conducted
in sanitary conditions by a trained provider, using approved
methods and medication.
MYTH: All abortions are unsafe.
FACT: Foetal abnormalities are conditions that may affect
a foetus or embryo. Serious foetal abnormalities are often incompatible with life or may
cause major disease after birth. Opponents of abortion often
highlight cases of termination for foetal anomalies, and assert that children born with particular disabilities can lead a good life.
However, to include all foetal anomalies under the umbrella
of disability, and to refer to them as a disability before birth is
inaccurate..
MYTH: Foetal abnormalities are equal to disabilities.
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FACT: According to UNFPA,80-90% of reported
abortions in India are carried out in
through ultrasonography.
In addition, most second trimester abortions are either due to foetal
abnormalities (which are often detected after 20 weeks of
gestation), or sought by vulnerable women (unmarried women,
widowed or victims of sexual abuse) who are not able to get the required support, information or
detect their pregnancy only in the second trimester.
MYTH: Majority of (and all second trimester) abortions are sex-
selective.
WHY A WOMAN MAY WANT TO CHOOSE ABORTION:
To protect her life or her physical or mental health
Lack of access to contraceptives: or she does not have agency to usecontraceptives; or in case of contraceptive failure
Serious foetal anomaly
In cases of rape or sexual abuse
Socio-economic reasons
She is too young to cope with the responsibilityof raising child
She does not have a support system or a partner to raisethe child with and unwilling to be a single mother
She chooses not to have a child
REASONS
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SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT GOALS
2030
ACCESSTO SAFE ABORTION
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality
ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births
Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and
reproductive health-care services, including for family planning,
information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies
and programmes
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and
reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme
of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the
outcome documents of their review conferences
GOOD HEALTHAND WELL-BEING3
GENDEREQUALITY5
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