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Safe Abortion

KIT works with medical societies, networks of health professionals, universities, (international) NGOs, governments and funders to ensure that programmes, policies and debates around safe abortion are evidence-informed and embedded in a rights-based approach. We also develop and provide trainings and resources on abortion for health professionals and other actors working on the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

Our Approach

We work from a public health and human rights approach in line with the World Health Organization’s international guidelines on abortion care and the key human rights standards on abortion. We adapt our work and approaches to the social and political context of each country, including the existing national regulatory frameworks.

Our focus areas:

Our work:

Contact us

Do you have a question or want to know more? Contact us by sending an e-mail.

Our Projects

  • Needs Assessment for a Multi-Country Safe Abortion Project

    • Institute
    • Project

    KIT conducted a ‘needs assessment’ for the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). It covered a multi-country project designed to increase the capacity of national obstetrics and gynaecology societies to lead their nations in safe abortion advocacy work. The formative research focused on the views about abortion advocacy in ten nations, taking into account both […]

  • RESPECT (Research, Education on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Advocacy on Equality)

    • Institute
    • Project

    Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso face complex societal, security, and health challenges. The consequences of which are most visible among women and girls, who have a higher risk of violence and greater difficulties in accessing health care, education and employment. Given the difficulties in accessing quality sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and […]

  • Extending Safe Abortion Advocacy with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

    • Institute
    • Project

    Since April 2019, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has worked with ten of its member associations – that is, national societies of obstetrics and gynaecology – to become key actors in safe abortion advocacy and national leaders in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women. The project envisioned reaching its […]

  • The role of health care providers in expanding the legal grounds for safe abortion: insights from Argentina, Ireland and South Korea

    • Institute
    • Project

    Abortion laws and regulations are key in creating an enabling environment that facilitates the advancement of people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and well-being. Notwithstanding the recent retrogressions on abortion laws in various parts of the world, legal frameworks regulating access to safe abortion have been progressively liberalised around the world over the last […]

  • Assessing Ultrasound Outreach

    • Institute
    • Project

    KIT worked with the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology (ISUOG), to assess their outreach programme and provide strategic directions to improve global access to obstetric and gynaecology ultrasound. As of 2020, ISUOG aims to move to more comprehensive programming for its areas of impact: training & education and beyond, including global access […]

Publications

  • How do we learn in advocacy and why is that important?

    • Institute
    • Publication

    Advocacy is a crucial activity in advancing human rights and systemtransformation. In the past decades, development agents have thereforeincreasingly invested in advocacy projects. The process of advocacy is complex. Especially advocacy for issues that are sensitive and subject to stigma, like safe abortion. Despite substantial evidence on the importance of access to safe abortion, it […]

  • Advocating safe abortion: outcomes of a multi‐country needs assessment on the potential role of national societies of obstetrics and gynecology

    • Institute
    • Publication

    In 2019 the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) embarked on an initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of 10 national societies of obstetrics and gynecology (ObGyn) in advocacy for safe abortion. In 2018 needs assessments that entailed a desk study, interviews, and stakeholder workshops were conducted in Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, […]

  • Advocacy for Safe Abortion Project – Final Evaluation Methods Appendix

    • Institute
    • Publication

    This methods appendix for the final evaluation of the FIGO advocacy for safe abortion project serves to provide an overview of the methodology applied throughout the project in 10 countries. It can be used as a reference document to the individual country and synthesis reports.

  • Advocacy for Safe Abortion: Gynaecologists and Obstetricians for Change (Executive Summary)

    • Institute
    • Publication

    Synthesis of key findings across ten countries of the FIGO project on Advocating for Safe Abortion The aim of the synthesis report is to discuss the main achievements and key results across the ten project countries of the Advocating for Safe Abortion Project (ASAP) and to acquire an understanding of the enabling and impeding factors […]

  • Advocacy for the Prevention of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Due to Unsafe Abortion – Uganda

    • Institute
    • Publication

    Country report: Project from the Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Uganda and the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics This evaluation includes an assessment of the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the project. From its start, attention was given to strengthening AOGU with the intention that societies would continue to flourish after the […]

  • Project on Prevention of Maternal Mortality Arising from Unsafe Abortion and Enhancing Access to Post-Abortion Care Through Advocacy – Kenya

    • Institute
    • Publication

    Country report: Project of the Kenya Obstetrical Gynaecological Society (KOGS) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) This end evaluation covers the period from the start of the project (April 2019) until end of March 2022, which marked the end of three years of project implementation. The evaluation primarily focused on measuring the […]

  • Major networks and players for Sexual Reproductive Health supplies, with focus on abortion and/or contraceptives

    • Institute
    • Publication

    The purpose of this project is to map the current major supply networks and players for Sexual and Reproductive Health supplies with a main focus on contraception and/or safe abortion commodities and supplies. Results A literature review and consultation with experts in the field of SRHR supplies resulted in a 4 page report, describing the […]

Blogs

  • The Dutch approach to abortion: leading or lagging in guaranteeing women’s rights?

    • Institute
    • Blog
    • News

    By Lisa Juanola, KIT SRHR Advisor and Irene de Vries, KIT Advisor on SRHR, Maternal and Newborn Care. Internationally, the fight for the right to safe and legal abortion is ongoing. The Netherlands is blessed with liberal laws and good access to safe abortion care, meaning it often serves as an example. The Netherlands is also a leading country […]

    Published on:
  • From Crisis to Innovation: Empowerment in Self-Administered Abortion

    • Institute
    • Blog
    • News

    By Ophelia Chatterjee, Lisa Juanola and Nicole Moran The rituals that help us to care for our own health and that of others have taken on new significance in the age of COVID-19. Familiar, everyday activities such as handwashing assume a heightened urgency (and even their own soundtracks), while the benefits of less familiar precautions […]

    Published on:

Events

Resources

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Topics

KIT MAG

KIT MAG: an annual magazine packed with stories about our activities, at our campus in Amsterdam and with partners worldwide.

Browse the magazine online or take a copy with you when you visit KIT (at the reception).