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:

Quality comprehensive abortion care services (including safe abortion and post abortion care)
Self-managed medication abortion
Laws and policies around abortion
Advocacy for safe and legal abortion

Our work:

Conducting research on safe abortion-related topics
Developing and providing courses and tailor made trainings for health professionals and organizations on safe abortion
Guiding medical faculties in integrating safe abortion in the medical curricula
Supporting medical societies in strengthening their position as leaders in abortion public and political debates
Designing, monitoring and evaluating programmes and projects on safe abortion
Advising governments and funders on strategies and policies around safe abortion.

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 […]

Read more : Needs Assessment for a Multi-Country Safe Abortion Project
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 […]

Read more : RESPECT (Research, Education on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Advocacy on Equality)
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 […]

Read more : Extending Safe Abortion Advocacy with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
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 […]

Read more : The role of health care providers in expanding the legal grounds for safe abortion: insights from Argentina, Ireland and South Korea
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 […]

Read more : Assessing Ultrasound Outreach

Publications

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, […]

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

Read more : Advocacy for Safe Abortion Project – Final Evaluation Methods Appendix
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 […]

Read more : Advocacy for Safe Abortion: Gynaecologists and Obstetricians for Change (Executive Summary)
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 […]

Read more : Advocacy for the Prevention of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Due to Unsafe Abortion – Uganda
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 […]

Read more : Project on Prevention of Maternal Mortality Arising from Unsafe Abortion and Enhancing Access to Post-Abortion Care Through Advocacy – Kenya
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 […]

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

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: September 28, 2020

Read more : The Dutch approach to abortion: leading or lagging in guaranteeing women’s rights?
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: May 28, 2020

Read more : From Crisis to Innovation: Empowerment in Self-Administered Abortion

Events

Poster presentation at the FIAPAC (International Federation of Abortion and Contraception Professionals). September 2022. Riga, Latvia.
Webinar on the role of healthcare providers in expanding legal abortion. KIT and Share-Net International. September 2022.
Presentation at the International Conference for Family Planning on the specific role of healthcare providers in expanding the legal grounds for safe abortion in three settings that have recently liberalised their abortion laws (Argentina, Ireland and South Korea). 14-17 November, Bangkok, Thailand.

Resources

Discursive toolkit to promote access to sexual and reproductive health services, including comprehensive abortion care
Community of practice on safe abortion and contraception, Share-Net International

Our Experts

Irene de Vries

Advisor

i.d.vries@kit.nl 0031 20 5688590
Nicole Moran

Junior Advisor

N.Moran@kit.nl +31 (2) 05688570

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Topics

Safe Abortion

Read more : Safe Abortion
Maternal and newborn health

Read more : Maternal and newborn health
SRHR and HIV

Read more : SRHR and HIV
Young people’s sexuality

Read more : Young people’s sexuality

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).

Download KIT Magazine

Safe Abortion

Our Approach

Our focus areas:

Our work:

Contact us

Our Projects

Needs Assessment for a Multi-Country Safe Abortion Project

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

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

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

Assessing Ultrasound Outreach

Publications

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

Advocacy for Safe Abortion Project – Final Evaluation Methods Appendix

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

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

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

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

Blogs

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

From Crisis to Innovation: Empowerment in Self-Administered Abortion

Events

Resources

Our Experts

Irene de Vries

Nicole Moran

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Topics

Safe Abortion

Maternal and newborn health

SRHR and HIV

Young people’s sexuality

KIT MAG