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An Amnesty International delegation will join abortion providers and defenders from across the globe at two gatherings in Bogotá, Colombia, to review progress on expanding access to safe abortions and to discuss new strategies to counter rising threats to human rights.  

The delegation will take part in a number of panels at the Latin American Consortium Against Unsafe Abortion (CLACAI) (30 Oct – 1 Nov), and the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) (4-6 Nov).  

 “While many advances have been made towards ensuring life-saving abortion services are available and accessible, anti-abortion narratives and legislation are gaining ground around the world, posing new threats,” said Fernanda Doz Costa, Director of the Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugees Programme at Amnesty International, who will take part in a number of panels. 

“Despite all the risks, brave activists and health professionals continue to work to protect the hard-earned right to access the essential healthcare that so many people’s lives depend on. These gatherings are a clear signal that the movement to protect gender equality is standing strong in the face of many challenges, and it is a source of inspiration.” 

These gatherings are a clear signal that the movement to protect gender equality is standing strong in the face of many challenges, and it is a source of inspiration.

Fernanda Doz Costa, Director of the Gender Justice, Racial Justice, Migrants and Refugees Programme at Amnesty International

Criminalization of abortion is the biggest contributing factor to the estimated 35 million unsafe abortions that occur every year. It means healthcare staff are constantly caught between their ethical and professional duty to provide the best available care and being criminally liable if they do not follow harmful laws. 

A report by Amnesty International found that, despite many advances, abortion providers and defenders are facing an increasing wave of attacks. In Bogotá, the organization and its partners will also continue promoting the Key Principles and actions to safeguard abortion care providers as human rights defenders and advocate for new narratives to advance reproductive justice through the new campaign “Latido Común.”  

The post Global: Amnesty delegation meets abortion defenders as backlash against human rights intensifies appeared first on Amnesty International.