Through constant collaboration and discussion, IPPF European Network and its Member Associations (MAs) are working to improve the quality and availability of
abortion services in Europe.
The Regional Office (RO) of the IPPF European Network (IPPF EN) organises workshops that bring together representatives from all over Europe for training in how to improve abortion care and integrate contraceptive education into counselling services.
Under its
advocacy programme, the regional office is considered to be a lead partner in
abortion rights and countering opposition to
abortion. As such, we are invited to all major events and meetings on the subject.
The project entitled ‘Promoting safe abortion in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia’ is an IPPF EN regional abortion initiative that started at the end of 2005.
The RO of the IPPF EN, and some of its member associations (MAs), have developed and tested tools for assessing the quality of abortion services, working with partner clinics.
The following MAs have been involved: Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The project builds the capacity and supports the MAs that do not have their own clinics in order to improve the quality of abortion services in their countries through capacity building in partner clinics.
The regional office provided the MAs with the necessary skills and tools to perform needs assessments and to develop action plans for improving the quality of abortion services.
The tools drew on the IPPF Quality of Care (QOC) tools as well as other sources and the rapid assessment process included meetings with local communities in addition to the assessments in the facilities themselves.
Based on the findings of the assessments and following capacity building by the IPPF EN RO, the MAs have drawn up action plans to work with their partner clinics to improve the quality of the abortion services offered. They will implement these plans in 2007 with RO support.
If you would like more information on the issue of abortion, you can consult the following documents:
This document gives a complete overview of the abortion legislation in those European countries where IPPF EN has member organisations. Among the information provided is: the grounds on which abortion is permitted, and the regulations and conditions governing abortion, such as gestational limit, consent required, etc. IPPF EN,
Choices: "Abortion in Europe" Vol. 28, N°2, Autumn 2000