A Beacon of Hope: Global Art and Activism Unite for Reproductive Justice in Dakar
A dynamic global coalition of reproductive health organizations, artist groups, feminist activists, and doulas gather in Dakar, Senegal with a powerful message: “We should not accept that abortion access depends on your postal code and income. This is about bodily autonomy and self-determination that is non-negotiable.”
There will be screenings, panel discussions, dance labs, art activations and more! Explore the event schedule here and on instagram @abortionpil here.
The event,"Voix Locales, Actions Globales," takes place at a crucial time in Senegal, where abortion remains criminalized. KIMPAVITA, a Pan-African feminist and eco-friendly initiative based in Dakar, highlights that "clandestine abortions are the fifth leading cause of death among women and contribute to 8% of maternal mortality in Sénégal." KIMPAVITA aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of illegal abortions and lobby for safe, legal options for women. the upcoming event Voix Locales, Actions Globales: pour l’accès à l’information et aux services de santé sexuelle et reproductive de qualité à Dakar (Local Voices, Global Actions: For access to quality sexual and reproductive health information and services in FWACA) set to take place on June 8th, 2024, in Maison de la Culture Douta Seck, Avenue Blaise Diagne x, Rue 25, Dakar, Senegal.
With participation from numerous international groups, this event marks a significant step in breaking the taboo surrounding sexual and reproductive health. FEMINIST interviewed 10 organizations, artists, and activists to explore the event's significance and how global audiences can collectively support abortion liberation.
“It is a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a future where every individual has access to quality information and services related to sexual and reproductive health.”
The State of Abortion in Senegal
To grasp the significance of this cultural event, it's crucial to understand the state of abortion in Senegal. Abortion laws are restrictive and ambiguous: while the criminal code bans all abortions, the medical ethics code permits them if three doctors agree it's necessary to save the woman's life (Guttmacher Institute).
Approximately 31% of pregnancies in Senegal are unintended, driving the demand for abortions. Despite strict laws, around 51,500 induced abortions occurred in 2012, mostly clandestine and unsafe, with a rate of 17 per 1,000 women aged 15-44. About 63% of these procedures are performed by untrained individuals, 38% by traditional healers, and 21% by the women themselves. Only 4% involve drugs from pharmacies.
Untrained providers often lead to complications, with poor rural women experiencing a 73% complication rate compared to 35% for nonpoor urban women. Social stigma adds to the risks, with 59 out of 244 women in jail for infanticide or abortion, highlighting the need for community education, policy reform, healthcare training, and support networks.
Voices and Perspectives
ODAS Centre
ODAS Centre, one of the organizers of the event, supports the safe abortion movement in French-speaking Africa by offering training, sharing best practices, coordinating strategies, and mobilizing funding to help partners and advocates expand abortion access in the region. They shared the importance of addressing stigma:
“In Francophone Africa, stigma surrounding reproductive care, particularly abortion and contraception, poses significant challenges to women's health and rights. Deeply rooted in cultural, religious, and societal norms contribute to this stigma, resulting in shame and social ostracism for women who seek these services. Religious beliefs often label abortion and contraception as immoral, leading to harsh judgments and the influence of religious leaders in shaping negative public opinion. This stigma manifests in healthcare settings, where biased attitudes from providers and restrictive legal policies further hinder access to care. In Senegal according to the law women for who came to a facility for post abortion care should be reported to the police by the health care provider. Consequently, women may delay seeking reproductive health services, resort to unsafe methods, and experience severe psychological distress.”
A representative of the ODAS Centre goes on to describe why the involvement of young feminist activists are key to creating a stigma-free future:
“Feminist activists are trusted allies at every level of the safe abortion ecosystem. This helps to break the persistent cycle of unjustified stigmatization due to socio-cultural or religious burdens, and to create positive, authentic stories. Through their activism and commitment, young people have always demonstrated that they are key agents of change, moving the yardsticks on many societal challenges, particularly sexual and reproductive health and rights. By involving young people in education and community awareness-raising activities on SRHR services, in particular safe abortion, we are improving access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for sexually active adolescents and young people, who for lack of reliable information seem to be much more confronted with unsafe abortions and their consequences than all women of childbearing age.”
AMOUR AGUIAR ADEGNIKA
Amour Aguiar Adegnika is a midwife working in reproductive health in Benin, she outlines below the state of access to reproductive healthcare in her country.
Access to reproductive healthcare in Benin is characterized by several challenges (socio-cultural religious norms, political barriers, stigmatization, criminalization, geographical and financial accessibility, and human resources). This explains the maternal mortality rate of about 200 deaths per year, which is 15%. Therefore, we were greatly relieved in 2021 when we received the news about the new amendment to the sexual and reproductive health law in Benin, thanks to the government's willingness to reduce this rate, although progress has been made in recent years. The population still faces difficulties and problems in accessing reproductive health services. Here is an overview of the current situation:
Because of socio-cultural religious norms, the legal conditions and procedures that must be met to access services hinder some seekers, as well as anti-choice healthcare providers and the literacy level of the population.
1. Infrastructure and Resources:
Inadequate Infrastructures: Many health facilities, especially in rural areas, lack the necessary equipment and qualified personnel.
Medical Personnel: There is a shortage of health professionals specialized in reproductive healthcare.
2. Financial, Geographical, and Legal Barriers:
Service Costs: The costs of reproductive healthcare services are often high compared to the average income, making these services inaccessible for part of the population.
3. Distance from Centers:
Women, to avoid being stigmatized in their communities, often travel long distances or sometimes
Women on Web and Women First Digital
Two of the co-hosts of the event, Women on Web and Women First Digital, are online abortion service providers dedicated to democratizing reproductive health information. We were intrigued by their decision to show up in person. Women on Web emphasized the importance of ground representation in Senegal, stating:
“With the region facing challenges in reproductive healthcare and abortion being criminalized, and despite a surge in internet usage, our on-the-ground engagement provides a crucial platform for direct interaction, fostering collaboration with local and international partners.” Martha Dimitatrou of Women on Web further highlighted the necessity of in-person convenings beyond typical conferences, emphasizing their vital role in fostering deeper connections and more effective advocacy.
Photo C/O KIMPAVITA
International and Local Representation
The event Voix Locales, Actions Globales will showcase international representation, featuring organizations like Fos Feminista and Tant Que Je Serai Noire (TQJSN), and will prominently center local voices. When asked who will be present and how they worked with the local community, organizers highlighted several feminist associations involved in the “Xool KO ci sa Boop” - Et si c'était toi? campaign. This campaign promotes access to quality reproductive health information and services, combats the consequences of clandestine abortion, and empowers women and girls in sexual and reproductive health matters. Participating local groups include Sénégal Actions Féministes, SheDecides, Yeewi (Liberation), Actions4Change, and OJSD (Organisation Jeunesse Santé et Développement). Marie Stopes Sénégal, which helps women and young people access high-quality reproductive health services, and Sama Doula, which supports women from conception to breastfeeding, will also be present.
Fos Feminista, is co-hosting the event. It is a global connector of feminist organizations from the global South, aims to expand the green wave and disseminate safe medical abortion information. They highlight successful South-to-South collaborations, such as the Uruguayan partner Iniciativas Sanitarias’ implementation of the harm reduction model over two decades ago. This model has been adapted in Tanzania and Uganda to fit local contexts and needs.
Tant Que Je Serai Noire (As Long As I Am Black), a collective of Black feminist women and gender minorities, will be present in solidarity. Based in France, they raise awareness about reproductive justice through their anti-racist, non-profit media organization. Emphasizing the importance of global solidarity to combat abortion bans, TQJSN strives to create safe spaces for free speech, heal from traumas, and provide resources for informed choices. They state:
“We look forward to a future where every woman has the freedom to make enlightened choices about her body and her life. Together, we can make a difference. Let’s continue to support and celebrate such initiatives. Let’s continue to shine a light on the issues that matter. Let’s continue to be the change we wish to see in the world.”
KIMPAVITA
KIMPAVITA is a Pan-African feminist and eco-friendly initiative based in Dakar that aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of illegal abortions and lobby for safe, legal options for women. KIMPAVITA shares what they hope to achieve with this event:
“I hope that this event will raise awareness of the extent of the damage caused by illegal abortions and facilitate the process of advocacy for the legalization of abortion in Senegal. To do this, we need to continue our awareness-raising campaigns aimed at the general public.”
Art C/O For Freedoms
Art as Activism
Historically, art has been a powerful catalyst for movements of sexual liberation. This event aims to bridge communities through poetry, cinema, music, dance, and visual art. We spoke with slam poet Samira Fall about how her feminism informs her work. She shared:
“I see myself as a tool for receiving and disseminating various forms of poetry. My aim is to impact my immediate environment by versifying parts of my life while putting words to everyday images. I'm sensitive to the condition of women and children, and ask myself many questions about their current place in society. These questions often recur in my texts, and I hope to inspire the same questioning in my audience.”
The event underscores art as a vital form of emotional processing and a tool in the struggle for justice and recognition. The dance group Casa das Mulheres da Maré (IB Project) embodies this by using movement to empower the community. Participants in their dance labs will delve into their own stories of sexual health and wellness, learning to express their strength and defiance through dance.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN TAKE ACTION:
👉 If you’d like to tune into the day’s programming you can visit Hesperian’s social channels: Instagram, X, Facebook
👉 You can find pills to use now or use later in almost 200 countries worldwide through womenonweb.org
👉 To further your support for safe abortion in West Africa and across the world visit hesperian.org/donate.
Your contributions help us continue to develop and distribute vital health information and resources globally like Safe abortion, Family Planning and Safe pregnancy and birth mobile applications.
👉 For those reading abroad, Women First Digital has created three platforms contributing uniquely to the destigmatization of sexual and reproductive health: safe2choose.org, howtouseabortionpill.org, and findmymethod.org.
Content is offered in multiple languages and has reached an audience of over 51 million as of 2023. Counseling and support are available on these platforms in addition to courses on how to safely manage abortions.
Partners in the global activation include:
