Maputo Protocol

Toward a Sustainable Abortion Ecosystem: Progress on the domestication of the Maputo Protocol in the DRC

Abortion is a fundamental right for every woman. Access to safe and legal abortion is an essential indicator of maternal health, bodily autonomy, and gender equality. Unsafe abortion is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While the penal code bans together abortion and contraception, the Maputo Protocol opens a window of opportunity to broaden access to safe abortion and contraceptive services, strengthening women's decision-making power, and guaranteeing gender equality, socio-economic empowerment, and education for girls, whose unwanted pregnancies are one of the main causes of school drop-out.

Published:

Download: