A coalition of human rights organizations urged the international community on Friday to safeguard abortion care providers. A report, released on International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, outlines recommendations to ensure the protection of abortion rights defenders.

Led by Amnesty International, the coalition includes prominent organizations such as the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Ipas, MSI Reproductive Choices, Organisation pour le Dialogue pour l’Avortement Sécurisé, and the International Confederation of Midwives. The joint report presents key principles and recommendations for states, grounded in international human rights law, and is the result of comprehensive research carried out since 2023.

The UN defines human rights defenders as those who “promote and […] strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels.” This definition extends to abortion rights defenders, such as care providers, who encounter significant challenges in their work. Yet, despite the adoption of this non-binding resolution, the report stated that the international community has failed to adequately address these critical issues, thereby placing human rights defenders at continued risk.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research underscores that, under international human rights law (IHRL), access to abortion is required where “carrying a pregnancy to term would cause a woman substantial pain or suffering, or where her life is at risk.” This position is further reinforced in the coalition’s report which highlights that abortion rights are a fundamental component of IHRL, anchored in principles of universality, legality, proportionality, equality, non-discrimination, and human dignity. The report further asserts that the realization of abortion rights is essential for upholding fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, privacy, bodily integrity, and personal autonomy.

Recommended principles and actions for States include the implementation of measures to prevent human rights violations against defenders, such as the development and application of laws and policies that guarantee abortion rights defenders can perform their work within a safe and ethical framework. Additionally, the report calls for protecting defenders’ rights, ensuring their ability to exercise their activities freely within a supportive legal environment. The coalition further advocates for the decriminalization of abortion in accordance with the WHO’s abortion guidelines, and emphasizes efforts to combat stigma and preserve civic space. Finally, it stresses the importance of providing legal recourse for abortion rights defenders who face criminal prosecution.

The report is released at a critical juncture for the international community, which, according to a 2023 Amnesty International report, continues to impose restrictions on the right to abortion through criminalization and prosecution of healthcare providers and activists. Notable examples include the convictions of a Polish and a Venezuelan activist for providing women with access to abortion pills.