International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)

Frances Longley, Chief Executive Officer

As a SheDecides Champion and CEO of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), I commit to ensuring bodily autonomy and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). These are front and centre of the work of FIGO and our member societies – professional membership organisations of obstetrics and gynaecology. Together, we continue to take a bold stance on the protection of SRHR as an unequivocal and essential element of the care of women and girls.

Advocating for Safe Abortion Project

FIGO’s Advocating for Safe Abortion Project works on international, regional, and national levels to remove barriers faced by pregnant people seeking access to safe and high-quality abortion care in low- and middle-income countries.

• We support healthcare professionals to effectively provide safe and respectful abortion services and champion sexual and reproductive health and rights (SHRH).

• We enhance the institutional strength of national societies to help them become national leaders on SRHR and deliver plans that facilitate access to safe abortion care in their countries.

• We advocate for sexual and reproductive rights globally, joining forces with partners on impactful campaigns to transform attitudes and call for systemic change.

FIGO Committee on Safe Abortion

The purpose of the FIGO Committee on Safe Abortion is to guarantee access to safe abortion for all. The committee supports FIGO's member societies with their work on improving access to legal and safe abortion in their countries, including disseminating best practice guidance on abortion and post-abortion care. The committee also promotes the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights education into the core medical school curricula and contributes to global advocacy efforts to ensure women and girls can make their own informed choices about their reproductive lives.

FIGO Resources on Safe Abortion

FIGO is committed to advancing the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology through education, research implementation, advocacy and capacity building, employing the highest ethical and professional standards in all of our work.

We work together with our global network of world-renowned experts to foster evidence-based dialogues and disseminate the latest best-practice guidance in the field of women’s health and rights.

About the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)

The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the world’s largest alliance of national professional societies of obstetricians and gynaecologists. Our mission is to improve women and girls’ health and wellbeing, reduce disparities in health care, and advance the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology worldwide.

With more than 130 national member societies across five regions, our geographic reach and ability to mobilise our networks enable us to amplify critical insights and facilitate knowledge sharing at a global scale. We put clinical research, professional experience and scientific evidence at the heart of our initiatives and believe in the power of our diverse global community to bring about real and long-lasting change.

FIGO regards reproductive choice, including access to safe and high-quality abortion care, as a basic and non-negotiable right of every woman and girl, wherever they live.

WHENSHE DECIDES