AS the world marks International Safe Abortion Day on September28th, Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights Africa (WGNRR Africa) and its partners have called for collective voices for change so as the nation to get the accesses to rights on safe abortion for women and girls.

WGNRR Africa and its partners met in Dar es Salaam and discuss issues related to the promotion of safe, legal, and accessible abortion services and the advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the day carries profound significance in the ongoing struggle for women's rights and the pursuit of gender equality.

“This year, we are also highlighting how we can collect our voices for change because unsafe abortion is preventable. This September 28, we celebrate diverse young people and how they are fearlessly taking and creating spaces and employing innovative advocacy strategies to champion safe abortion rights and reproductive justice,” the Regional Director of WGNRR Africa, Nondo Ejano said.

He pointed out that International Safe Abortion (September 28) is deeply rooted in the global movement dedicated to advancing women's reproductive rights and promoting gender equality.

 “It primarily champions the cause of reproductive rights, with a specific focus on the right to safe and legal abortion. This emphasis underscores the utmost importance of empowering women with control over their bodies, choices, and futures,” he said.

He noted: “This Day plays a vital role in raising awareness. It serves as a powerful educational tool on a global scale, shedding light on the alarming prevalence of unsafe abortions and the severe consequences they entail. It also emphasizes the urgent necessity of ensuring universal access to safe abortion services.”

He also pointed out that in this year, WGNRR Africa, in alignment with the call to action, has chosen to unite with its partners in commemorating this day by coming together as this year's theme, "Collective voices for change: Advocating safe and legal abortion and reproduction Justice in Tanzania." The objective is to harness collective strength and amplify advocacy efforts.

He noted that while Tanzania is a signatory to the Maputo Protocol, it has not adopted legislation that would allow abortion in cases of pregnancy from rape, incest, or risk of harm to the mental and physical health of the mother.

He further said: “The law guiding abortion heath care says it is only done to save the life of a mother and not otherwise. But according to a study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute and partners, Tanzania’s abortion rate was 36 per 1,000 women who aged 15–49 and the majority of abortions were unsafe with nearly 67,000 women being treated in health facilities for post abortion care.”

Therefore, we need safe abortion services for girls and women who got pregnancies due to rape, sexual violence and assaults from their fathers, uncles, brothers, nephews and other blood  relatives against their will,” he said, noting that the collective commitments from stakeholders are needed to support the government’s efforts which can help to avoid both human and financial costs of unsafe abortion in the country.

Peter Majanjala, Legal Consultant and An advocate of the High Court said: “As we are commemorating the international safe abortion day, we are now in court challenging for Articles 150 to 152 of the penal code prohibits unlawful abortion, while Article 230 permits abortion to preserve the life of the mother.”

He further said that under the Tanzanian penal code, health practitioners who perform illegal abortions may receive sentences of up to 14 years in prison, while those who procure abortions for themselves may be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.

Some of the participants have also urged the country to ensure that all women and girls, regardless of their backgrounds, have access to safe abortion care.

“We are calling Tanzania to make sure that all women and girls, are accessing to safe abortion care after rape and other actions that made them pregnancy,” Neema Haule  said .

Other participants said that there is a need for the community to have collectively strategies so as to enhance solidarity in advocating for improved abortion services.

“The government must also see possibility of protecting the reproductive rights of women by authorising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, and incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the pregnant woman or the life of the woman,” Dora John from Dar es Salaam urged.

During the one-day event, the participants have gained a deeper understanding of the history of September 28 and partners have shared experience on working on abortion under restrictive legal environment.

The participants have got time to enhance understanding of Sept 28 among participants and create solidarity in the campaign for expanding safe abortion access. Partners shared their experience on working on abortion under the restrictive environment.

The event attended by participants who included SRHR Allies, Health and Legal professionals, survivors of unsafe abortion, CSOs, media personnel and Youths champions.