On December 20th, 2024, Medical Doctors for Choice (MDFC), alongside SRHR Rwanda Coalition members, government officials, and other civil society partners, joined the Rwanda NGOs Forum in commemorating the National Celebration of International Safe Abortion Day. Held at Cyanika Playground in Rubavu District, the event was themed “Standing in Solidarity to Reduce Unsafe Abortion.”
The celebration aimed to raise awareness about the alarming rate of deaths resulting from unsafe abortion, while spotlighting Rwanda’s progressive legal steps, the role of civil society, and the commitment of local leaders in advancing access to safe abortion services.
The Vice Mayor of Rubavu District officially opened the event, acknowledging the grave harm caused by unsafe abortion—including trauma, death, and severe health complications like uterine perforation. She also recognized Rwanda’s important legal reforms that permit abortion under specific conditions, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to protect women’s health.
Madam Nooliet, a representative from the Rwanda NGOs Forum on HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion, reinforced this message and encouraged the public to better understand the legal frameworks in place, while calling for support to victims of unsafe abortion. The SRHR Rwanda Coalition Lead further unpacked the significance of International Safe Abortion Day and detailed the five legal grounds for abortion in Rwanda. He called on men to take accountability by supporting women and spreading awareness, while advocating for contraceptive use as a preventive strategy to reduce unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion rates.
The Director General of Gisenyi District Hospital echoed these points and shared a tragic real-life story of a woman who died just outside the hospital from hemorrhaging due to an unsafe abortion. He assured the public that safe abortion services are accessible, confidential, medically covered—including under community-based health insurance—and can be accessed without invasive questioning or justification, provided the client meets one of the five legal conditions.
A powerful testimony followed from a young rape survivor who safely accessed abortion services with the support of HDI. Her story, shared with full confidentiality, served as a moving reminder of the importance of safe and stigma-free care. The event also included musical interludes by artist Mico the Best, who energized the audience between sessions. In closing, the Vice Mayor returned to commend SRHR coalition members for their continued advocacy and urged citizens to challenge the stigma surrounding safe abortion. She emphasized that every woman dying from unsafe abortion represents a human rights violation that must not be tolerated.
The event concluded with several key recommendations: to stop discrimination and violence against safe abortion seekers, expand safe abortion services without restrictive conditions, promote contraceptive use, and ensure men play an active role in supporting SRHR access. Overall, the celebration was both vibrant and impactful, reinforcing community understanding of safe abortion laws, celebrating achievements, and issuing a collective call to action to end unsafe abortion in Rwanda.