Creating and sharing positive discourse in the fight against clandestine abortion and contraception

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Extract from the article: The Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF), with technical and financial support from IPPF, held a values clarification workshop for journalists on the issue of illegal abortion in Togo from 23 to 24 February at the Agoè Centre of E

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The Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF), with technical and financial support from IPPF, held a values clarification workshop for journalists on the issue of illegal abortion in Togo from 23 to 24 February at the Agoè Centre of Excellence in Lomé. The aim was to get participants to examine and question their perceptions, convictions and behaviour with regard to abortion, in order to create demand, transmit messages on abortion and family planning (FP) for referrals and data collection. The workshop was initiated as part of the «Compréhensive Abortion care_Hewlett» project.

The workshop provided journalists with an in-depth understanding of the extent of abortion in Togo, the practical provisions of the WHO, international and national laws, and agreements relating to abortion. It has also made them aware of the need to transform their attitudes, and those of other stakeholders, towards abortion.The aim is to bring about a change in attitudes towards abortion issues, to pass on prevention messages and to involve media men and women and influencers in ATBEF's awareness-raising initiatives.

Journalists now have a better understanding of the phenomenon of clandestine abortion and are able to raise awareness of the issue without passing judgement. They understand what needs to be done to ensure access to reproductive health services (RHS) and have the knowledge to refer patients to ATBEF clinics. They are also familiar with awareness-raising strategies and activity reporting tools to ensure the sustainability of the project.

« We have seen an upsurge in clandestine abortions, resulting in the deaths of many women and girls of childbearing age. According to statistics, more than 3% of female deaths are due to illegal abortions.We hope that the legal provisions authorising safe abortion will be widely disseminated so that women no longer take the risk of resorting to clandestine abortions" We now know that, thanks to an ethical approach, we can reach even the most remote populations. It's essential to find information relays in every village to raise awareness about abortion.We're counting on the media to change people's perception of abortion and to disseminate the necessary information, because we know that it's a sensitive subject », said Victoire Oudjeke, public health midwife and reproductive health trainer.

In Togo, voluntary termination of pregnancy is authorised when the pregnancy is the result of rape or an incestuous relationship.

It is also authorised when the continuation of the pregnancy endangers the life and health of the pregnant woman or when there is a strong probability that the foetus will suffer from a particularly serious condition.There is no stopping a woman who has decided to have an abortion.Some stick onions in the womb, others mutilate their stomachs or ingest bleach, determined to have an abortion whatever the cost.These are dangerous and harmful practices that put women's lives at risk.

Three (03) other value clarification workshops were also held from 26 to 27 February 2024 at SOS Village d'Enfants in Kara, from 28 to 29 February 2024 at the Centre des Jeunes in Sokodé and from 1 to 02 March 2024 at Hôtel Le Flamboyant in Atakpamé.

Merveille MESSAN