Challenges and Perspectives in Advocacy for Safe Abortion FIAPAC 9 th Congress Seville 2010 Daniela Draghici Steering Committee member

Central & Eastern Europe & Central Asia Geographic Map

Common trends  Widespread availability of abortion on legal grounds for 50 years  Poor access for social-vulnerable groups  Low quality of services in public sector  Unsafe abortions = one quarter of maternal deaths  Access to abortion services challenged Kyrgyzstan Armenia Georgia Israel Lithuania Moldova Romania Russia Ukraine Uzbekistan Country Profiles Azerbaijan Poland

Special Limitations  Insurance reimbursement  Drug & provider–related regulations  Gestational limits  Conservative policies  Lack of trained providers  Lack of concerted advocacy action Kyrgyzstan Armenia Georgia Israel Lithuania Moldova Romania Russia Ukraine Uzbekistan Country Profiles Azerbaijan Poland

Why Advocacy is Problematic in CEE Information and photo source: Wanda Novicka, ASTRA coordinator “ (…) the societies in CEE (…) have turned out to be particularly vulnerable to anti- choice rhetoric.”

Goal To help To help reduce maternal mortality by increasing access to safe abortion, with focus on MAObjective To enhance regional advocacy capacity, so as to:  raise awareness  sensitize providers  motivate women to embrace MA  develop new evidence-based training curricula

International Level Gynuity regional conference 2009 IPPF-EN Regional Council Meeting 2009 Conference on early terms of pregnancy 2009 Active participation in international conferences New member recruitment Partnership Partnership

Regional Level Strategic assessments & data collection Strategic assessments & data collection Dissemination of evidence-based info Dissemination of evidence-based info Country profiles Country profiles Networking & expertise sharing Networking & expertise sharing TO DO:  TOT  Advocacy workshop Kyrgyzstan Armenia Georgia Israel Lithuania Moldova Romania Russia Ukraine Uzbekistan Country Profiles Azerbaijan Poland

Moldova case study A young woman from a poor region was sentenced to 20 years in prison for having a self-induced abortion at home. abortion She would be 45 when released from jail. Information and photo source: Center for Reproductive Rights

Romania case study Case of the 11-yr-old girl pregnant after rape Only EU-member country that tries to ban therapeutic abortion past 24 weeks in new penal code & order re: adolescent girls’ access to abortion Petition to Parliament by 3 NGOs backed by 50 nat’l, regional & int’l organizations & networks MEP advocated with EP colleagues to co-sign a letter to Romanian Parliament’s chair

Romania: Advocacy Romania: Outside-the-box Advocacy at the Public Library Policy advocacy roundtable on MDG5b May 28: Int’l Day of Action for Women’s Health NGO Local government Medical statistics Public library

Advocacy Solutions Establish strategic partnerships Organize “outside-the-box” activities Involve more men Position statement Newsletter on ICMA website Memorandum of understanding

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