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Press Release

6 February 2006

UK Government announces support to help combat threat to women's health in developing world

A new programme to support women’s sexual and reproductive health services received a welcome kick-start today, with International Development Minister Gareth Thomas announcing that the UK Government would contribute £3 million to the scheme.

The Global Safe Abortion Programme (GSAP), developed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), will help to ensure that internationally agreed targets to reduce the number of maternal deaths in the world’s poorest countries are achieved by 2015.

The IPPF programme will help its member associations to do more to stop unsafe abortions as well as helping support groups such as Marie Stopes International and Manuela Ramos in Peru, and others which have seen a decline in their family planning and reproductive health services.

Gareth Thomas said:

    “We know from experience that the absence of sexual and reproductive health services results in an increase in unintended pregnancies and, inevitably, a greater number of unsafe abortions.

    “That is why the UK will support organisations like the IPPF and Marie Stopes that are providing medical care and information to help save women’s lives. Today we are announcing an initial £3 million over the next two years to help kick-start the Global Safe Abortion Programme.

    “I would urge other donors to follow our lead and make a contribution to this life saving initiative that could improve the lives of thousands of poor women in the developing world.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that nearly 70,000 women – mostly the youngest and poorest - die agonising deaths from sepsis and haemorrhage as a result of unsafe abortions each year. Around 19 million women have an unsafe abortion every year – that is one in 10 pregnancies worldwide.

Notes to editors

1. It is estimated that one woman dies every minute as a result of pregnancy and childbirth - over half a million women every year. Unsafe abortion accounts for at least 13% of all these maternal deaths, although research suggests this figure is likely to be vastly underestimated. In Kenya, where abortion is illegal, 300,000 unsafe abortions take place every year – the ensuing deaths account for up to 50% of maternal deaths.

2. The Global Gag Rule was first introduced in 1984 by President Regan. After being revoked during the terms of President Clinton, it was reinstated by President G W Bush in 2001.

3. The gag prevents NGOs such as the IPPF and Marie Stopes from receiving US funding if they are involved in any work related to promotion or discussion of safe abortion services, even when that work is funded from other sources. This includes work in countries where abortion services are legally available.

4. Organisations that have refused to sign up to the gag automatically disqualify themselves from receiving any US assistance for family planning and reproductive health.

5. The Global Safe Abortion Programme will support work on abortion that has suffered or been neglected as a result of the Global Gag Rule. It will help improve access to safe abortion services and will help support those groups who have been forced to cut back on reproductive health services.

6. The External linlfull report of Death and Denial: Unsafe Abortion and Poverty will be available online from 00:01 Monday 06 February. Embargoed copies of the report are available from IPPF’s Press Office on +44 (0)20 7939 8233

7. The International Planned Parenthood Federation is an independent, not for profit umbrella organisation representing 151 national family planning associations working to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for all in 183 countries worldwide.

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