28 Sep September 28 Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion
This day of action has its origin in Latin America where women’s groups have been mobilizing around September 28the last two decades to demand their governments to decriminalize abortion, to provide access to safe and affordable abortion services and to end stigma and discrimination towards women who choose to have an abortion.
This date was chosen in commemoration of the abolition of slavery in Brazil which is now remembered as the day of the “free womb” demanding for safe and legal abortion for all women.
In 2011 WGNRR took September 28 to the global level in solidarity with the women’s movement in Latin America and in recognition of the fact that that access to safe and legal abortion continues being denied for too many women in too many countries. In most of the African countries abortion is either prohibited altogether or only allowed to save the life of the mother.
In some Asian countries abortion is permitted by law, in the majority, however, still severely restricted, and even when legal, women have to grapple with heavy costs and inaccessibility of appropriate abortion care.
Several European countries and increasingly the United States face fierce attacks by the opposition groups that wish to curtail women’s reproductive freedom by imposing legal and financial restrictions, projecting greater stigma and discrimination and further obstructing access to abortion care.
All factors mentioned above constitute severe obstacles for women to fully exercises their Human Rights.
Source: wgnrr.org