Funding Source: Amplify Change
Nyale Institute, as part of the Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (COPUA), advocates for an end to preventable maternal deaths caused by unsafe abortions. While COPUA has focused on advancing the Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Bill, Nyale Institute aims to shift attention to the Gender Equality Act (GEA) of 2014, which already provides a legal basis for access to safe and legal abortion. By raising awareness of the GEA, we seek to empower stakeholders—government, civil society, and health providers—to leverage this law to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Malawi.
Policy Context:
Malawi’s Constitution, adopted in 1994, upholds sexual and reproductive rights, including commitments made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The GEA is a powerful tool for SRHR, recognizing the right to access safe and legal abortion, despite restrictions in the Penal Code. However, due to restrictive legal frameworks, many women and girls resort to unsafe abortions, leading to serious complications. In 2015, it was estimated that 140,000 women illegally terminated pregnancies, with 80,000 requiring hospital intervention.
Project Goals:
Nyale Institute aims to promote the GEA as the cornerstone for advancing SRHR, including safe abortion access. Our approach will ensure that laws, policies, and clinical practices align with the GEA, using access to safe abortion for survivors of sexual violence and crisis pregnancies as a key entry point.
Partnerships:
- COPUA members
- Young Voices
- Umunthu Foundation
Contribution to Abortion Policy Reform:
By highlighting the Gender Equality Act, this project strengthens existing efforts to improve abortion policies in Malawi. It will raise awareness of the GEA, ensuring health providers can offer safe abortion services in line with the law, ultimately contributing to a more comprehensive approach to SRHR.
Together, we can reshape the narrative and build a legal framework that truly protects and supports women and girls in Malawi!!
