States Must Protect Abortion Care Providers: A New Call to Action for Governments

A coalition of human rights organizations has issued new guidelines, urging governments around the globe to enhance protections for abortion care providers. The guidelines, released on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, arrive at a moment when healthcare professionals are encountering heightened risks as abortion rights confront escalating challenges worldwide.

With guidance from Amnesty International, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and other organizations, the Key Principles and Actions to Safeguard Abortion Care Providers present a series of actionable recommendations aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of these essential healthcare professionals. The guidelines emphasize the necessity of preventing violations via protective protocols, allowing defenders to operate freely by guaranteeing universal access to abortion care, and protecting the rights of individuals who provide reproductive health services.

Despite significant progress in some areas of sexual and reproductive health, abortion providers remain vulnerable to verbal, physical, and legal attacks. Fernanda Doz Costa of Amnesty International states that abortion rights defenders are "failed by many states" and frequently face active targeting. In areas where abortion is illegal or limited, these professionals face growing hostility and violence, obstructing their capacity to deliver vital services.

The report emphasizes the urgent necessity for governments to fulfill their responsibilities in safeguarding healthcare workers, particularly in light of the escalating opposition to reproductive rights. Simon Cooke of MSI Reproductive Choices highlights the urgent need for states to protect individuals who put their lives on the line to provide access to essential abortion care.