Amnesty International has announced that its delegation will join abortion providers and defenders from around the world at two major gatherings in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess global progress on abortion access and strategize against mounting threats to human rights. The meetings will take place at the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion (CLACAI) from October 30 to November 1, and at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) from November 4 to 6.
Fernanda Doz Costa, Amnesty International’s Director of the Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugees Programme, emphasized that while significant strides have been made toward ensuring access to life-saving abortion services, anti-abortion rhetoric and restrictive laws are gaining traction globally. She highlighted the courage of activists and healthcare professionals who continue to defend abortion rights despite growing risks, saying that these gatherings symbolize resilience and solidarity within the global movement for gender equality.
The criminalization of abortion remains one of the primary drivers behind the 35 million unsafe abortions estimated to occur each year. Restrictive laws place healthcare professionals in a precarious position, forcing them to choose between fulfilling their duty of care and risking prosecution. Amnesty International’s recent research shows that abortion providers and defenders are increasingly facing harassment and attacks in many countries.
In Bogotá, Amnesty International and its partners will continue to advocate for stronger protection of abortion providers as human rights defenders through the promotion of the “Key Principles and Actions to Safeguard Abortion Care Providers.” They will also launch “Latido Común,” a new campaign designed to reshape public narratives and advance reproductive justice worldwide.
