Community-Level Training and Advocacy Meetings on Abortion Rights

Women in Arda Transau, Mutare, pose for a group Photo after their community meeting on abortion rights, July 2024.

Since 2021, the Health Law and Policy Consortium (HLPC), in partnership with the Institute for Young Women’s Development (IYWD), has been working hand in hand with communities in Epworth, Chimanimani, and Mutare to break the silence around safe abortion. At the heart of this initiative are trained Community Champions, ordinary women who have become extraordinary advocates for reproductive rights in their communities. They regularly convene Community-Level Training and Advocacy Meetings on Abortion Rights in their communities to share knowledge on safe abortion.

Through the Feminist Movement Building School (FMBS), these women were equipped not only with knowledge of the legal and medical aspects of abortion, but also with the confidence and skills to spark conversations in spaces where abortion had long been considered taboo. They returned to their communities as educators, facilitators, and advocates, creating safe spaces for dialogue and offering women information that could save lives.

Women in Epworth, hosting  their community meeting on abortion rights, August 2023

The impact has been profound. In Epworth, women who once whispered about unsafe abortions now openly discuss the importance of accessing safe care. In Chimanimani, community dialogues have reached local leaders and men, shifting long-held attitudes and inspiring allies to support women’s reproductive rights. In Mutare, Champions have used public gatherings, churches, sporting events, and workplaces to spread vital information, helping women understand not only their health rights, but also where and how to access post-abortion care.

These conversations are changing lives. Women who were once isolated in their experiences are now speaking out, finding solidarity, and demanding better health services. Men who previously dismissed the issue are now joining hands to advocate for safe abortion as a matter of community well-being. Since the beginning of the program, over 10,000 women have been reached with accurate information, while more than 6,000 women have been supported in accessing post-abortion care services.

What started as small community meetings has grown into a powerful movement—one that is breaking down stigma, fostering solidarity, and saving lives. The voices of women in Epworth, Chimanimani, and Mutare are leading the way, proving that when women are empowered with knowledge and platforms to speak, they can transform not just conversations but entire communities.