CoP Overview and Introduction

Abortion is an old practice. Abortions are safe when they method used are suggested by world health organization, appropriate for the length of pregnancy and the practice user is competent. Unfortunately, most abortions in Burkina Faso are at risk and clandestine. According to the Demographic and Health Survey 2010 (EDS 2010), Burkina Faso recorded 330 maternal death per 100,000 live-births, 10% of which are caused by unsafe abortion. In Burkina Faso, three out of ten pregnancies are unwanted, and one-third of them finished by abortion (Guttmacher Institute,  2013).

The African charter on human and peoples’ right on the rights of women in Africa called “Maputo protocol” in 2005, declared that each state must prepare and implement national action plans to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. In this vision, the Burkina Faso legislation through penal code authorises the safe termination of pregnancy under four conditions. These conditions are:

1. When the fetus has malformation incompatible with extra uterine life
2. When the continuation of the pregnancy worsens the state of health of the mother
3. In case of rape
4. In case of incest

Even with these derogations, the generally population are often not informed of their sexual reproductive and health rights. National organisations are promoting safe abortion according to low and advocating for lighter legislation. The CoP on safe abortion according to law is therefore an opportunity to exchange on the topic with dynamic implementation, through sharing experiences for better synergy of action of interventions. We have to consider all opposition in the promotion of SRHR

CoP Objectives

• To strengthen the collaboration between actors working on safe abortion according to law
• To increase the interest of the general population in the topic safe abortion according to law
• To ensure building capacity of CoP members
• To develop knowledge products that help to provide information on safe abortion according to law
• To ensure advocacy for improving policy and practice
• To strength social mobilization and communication on safe abortion according to law

Key CoP Resources or Publications

None yet

Key Annual CoP activities

• To organize sharing experiences sessions of members activities
• To realise e-campaigns
• To disseminate the four conditions for abortion as authorized by the Burkina Faso penal code to have safe abortion
• To published information during relevant international days
• To developed knowledge products

Main CoP Information Page

To read more about Share-Net Burkina faso’s CoP on Safe Abortion According to Law, please visit their main CoP information page.

CoP launch date

The CoP was launched in September 2022

CoP Contact

Please add the main point of contact and information about how to get in touch with the CoP coordinator.

OUEDRAOGO Ives – ivesyac@gmail.com