Women following the proceedings at the NFMBS, March 2023, Harare.
HLPC in partnership with IYWD, convened a National Feminist Movement Building School (NFMS) which saw a network of 15 young women and women aware of the Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOPA) in Zimbabwe who are Champions of safe abortion and how the law can be used to access safe abortion was established through a National Feminist Movement Building School (NFMS) held in March 2023. The trained women also acquired knowledge on Feminist Movement Building and the importance of a collective voice in raising awareness on the importance of safe abortion and advocacy for safe abortion.
Following the training, the women demonstrated positive norms and behaviour towards women’s access to safe abortion. This was testified through the trained women’s efforts to mobilise, raise awareness, and refer other women in their communities to the existence of the TOPA and the importance of safe abortion. The trained women in the three target areas of Epworth, Mutare and Chimanimani mobilised a total of 74 women and 1 ward councillor (stakeholder) through follow-up community meetings. 3 of the young women from the trained cohort also referred a total of 11 women through the IYWD and HLPC referral pathway to access post-abortion care services as provided in the TOPA.
Dorcas Chitiyo, HLPC’s Projects Coordinator, formally introducing HLPC to the women at the NFMBS, March 2023, Harare.
The screening and discussion of the documentary titled “The Story Behind Her Termination” on women’s lived realities with safe abortion at the NFMBS shared the untold stories of what happens when women cannot access safe abortion. The documentary shifted the beliefs and behaviour of the NFMBS participants on safe abortion. The stories told in the documentary, the knowledge of the TOPA and the importance of working collectively to raise awareness and advocate for safe abortion for marginalised women changed the women’s beliefs and behaviour. This contributed towards the positive change, which saw the trained women proactively mobilising other women and building a movement of women coordinating their efforts to promote access to safe abortion in Zimbabwe.
