mmohonation Events Gallery
Overcoming misconceptions & expanding access: an interactive workshop on the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act | Human Rights Festival
On 22 March, Ibis's Johannesburg-based staff hosted an interactive workshop, Overcoming Misconceptions and Expanding Access, at the Human Rights Festival held for Human Rights Day. This dialogue focused on the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, a landmark piece of legislation that legalised abortion in South Africa. Though enacted in 1996, significant gaps remain in implementation. Ibis staff facilitated sessions that provided a space for participants to voice their perspectives about abortion, shared insights into how the law works on paper and in practice, dispelled myths about abortion, and highlighted the need for comprehensive education about abortion to ensure access to high-quality, safe abortion.
PODCAST: Know Your Rights: Accessing Safe Abortion in South Africa | Ditokello Tsa Hao
In South Africa, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act and the Constitution protect your right to a safe abortion. Yet, many people remain unaware of their rights or where to access safe, legal services.
On the Ditokello Tsa Hao Podcast, our colleagues from the Africa Region Office, Sesona Buyeye and Tanya Robbertse, discuss what you need to know when seeking an abortion. They also introduce the mmoho Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Helpline, a trusted resource for information on abortion services and other SRH support near you.
International Safe Abortion Day 2024
Ibis Reproductive Health, in collaboration with Ipas Africa Southern Region, AMAZE.org, Accountability International, Sonke Gender Justice, the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition (SRJC), the mmoho Campaign, SECTION27, together with other feminist movements, social justice organisations working on health rights and allies, came together to commemorate International Safe Abortion Day (ISAD) on 28 September 2024 with a march. The purpose of the march was to advocate for safe, high-quality abortion care and reproductive justice for all. Additionally, march attendees raised awareness of the importance of safe abortion access. They provided the public with information on safe and legal abortion facilities by placing QR-coded stickers over posters advertising illegal abortion services.
International Safe Abortion Day: Media Coverage
March aims to raise awareness on safe abortion
Take a walk through any city street and you will see posters for 'safe, quick, clean' abortions. But, NGOs say these illegal clinics are far from hygienic or pain-free and have serious risks. To mark International Safe Abortion Day, they are taking to the streets of Johannesburg.
Women should not be forced to keep pregnancies: Abortion Support
Victoria Satchwell, Executive Director at Abortion Support South Africa said: “One in four women in South Africa are having an abortion, so it’s very common and what can also happen with unsafe providers is maybe they are not giving you the effective methods, maybe your abortion does work or might end up in a hospital because you have some complications from the unsafe procedure…”
NPOs in JHB raise awareness of safe, legal abortions with 5km walk
Lobby group, Abortion Support says women should not be forced to keep a pregnancy against their will. Different non-profit organisations commemorated International safe abortion day under the theme Abortion Solidarity in Communities on Saturday.
The International Safe Abortion Day march is in full swing in Johannesburg CBD
The International Safe Abortion Day march is in full swing in Johannesburg CBD, with youths calling for access to safe information about reproductive health. Organisations leading the march aim to share accurate knowledge while dispelling harmful information. Newzroom Afrika's Audrey Chimwanda speaks to Vincent Hlatshwayo, one of the men supporting safe abortions.
Newzroom Afrika's Audrey Chimwanda chats with Duduetsang Mmeti, Senior Communications Manager at Ibis Reproductive Health
[WATCH] Newzroom Afrika's Audrey Chimwanda chats with Duduetsang Mmeti, Senior Communications Manager at Ibis Reproductive Health, about NGOs gathering at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg for International Safe Abortion Day. They will be marching to challenge perceptions around unwanted pregnancy termination. Mmeti highlights the need for greater efforts to empower women in their reproductive health decisions.
#Newzroom405's Audrey Chimwanda speaks with Victoria Satchwell, Executive Director at Abortion Support, moments before the march.
#Newzroom405's Audrey Chimwanda speaks with Victoria Satchwell, Executive Director at Abortion Support, moments before the march. Satchwell says it's important to hold events like this due to the lack of knowledge around safe abortions.
Safe abortion awareness | Activist Victoria Satchwell weighs in
International Safe Abortion Day is marked annually on September 28. The aim is to raise awareness of accessibility to safe and legal abortion care. Victoria Satchwell Executive Director @Abortion Support joins us to unpack this further.
2024 Youth Day Webinar
16 June marked Youth Day in South Africa, a day we commemorate the contribution made by young people in the struggle for freedom in South Africa. To commemorate this day, Ibis Reproductive Health Africa Region office, through its mmoho Campaign, hosted a webinar to share findings on a research study authored by Ibis researchers, Jewelle Methazia, Tshego Bessenaar and Sarah Baum titled “"What we mostly focus on preventing is pregnancy, we don't really focus on preventing HIV... ": Young people's perceptions and priorities when preventing unplanned pregnancy and HIV. highlighted the work of advancing the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and tackling unplanned pregnancy among young people.
2024 International Women's Day Webinar
8 March 2024 marked International Women's Day, a globally recognised occasion to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women worldwide. The Ibis Reproductive Health Africa Region office, in collaboration with the mmoho Campaign and AMAZE Africa, hosted a webinar to commemorate International Women's Day. Under the theme " Investing in Women: Bridging the Gap through Investment in Sexual & Reproductive Health," fostered dialogue and insights into the pivotal role of investing in women to drive positive societal change and improved access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.
International Safe Abortion Day
Peaceful march on 28 September 2023 in commemoration of International Safe Abortion Day.
Webinar: International Safe Abortion Day
On 3 October 2023 we came together and hosted a webinar to raise our voices in support of a crucial cause - International Safe Abortion Day. The panellists delved into a wide range of topics related to safe abortion, including young people’s leadership in abortion justice, legal advocacy and its role in ensuring the protection of abortion rights and access, the importance of training and support for abortion providers, and self-managed abortion in the African region.
International Safe Abortion Day: Media Coverage
International Safe Abortion Day | Raising Awareness of Safe Abortion Services
Vice-president of Africa Programmes at Ibis Reproductive Health, Tshego Bessenaar said: "That is why this day is so important to not only emphasise access to safe abortion services, but to also emphasise the need to really support our providers"
Unsafe abortions continue to proliferate due to lack of knowledge, stigma and nurses' attitude
Duduetsang Mmeti, Senior Communications Manager at Ibis Reproductive Health said: "Safe abortion is a reproductive right and reproductive rights are human rights. Taking the decision to opt for an abortion is an exercise of one’s reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. A denial of abortion care is a denial to one’s right to choice, and a denial of this right is an injustice to an individual’s reproductive health rights and human rights.”
Commemorating International Safe Abortion Day
Jewelle Methazia, Senior Research Coordinator, at Ibis Reproductive Health said: "Ibis South Africa team is commemorating this significant day by taking a moment to express our gratitude and admiration for the remarkable individuals and organisations who have been at the forefront of advocating for and providing safe abortion care in the African region, and with a number of educational events"
Make abortion safe: fight for reproductive rights takes to SA streets
WEBINAR
Understanding people living with disabilities: the impact on accessing sexual and reproductive health services
On 21 July 2023, Mmoho and the Wits University Disability Rights Unit, the Wits Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advocacy Programmes hosted a webinar titled "Understanding people living with disabilities: the impact on accessing sexual and reproductive health services".
The webinar facilitated a dynamic and engaging panel discussion covering the barriers that people with disabilities face when seeking sexual and reproductive health services.
Celebrating 8 years of The Mmoho Campaign, March 2022, Durban
Since its launch in 2013, the mmoho campaign had the honour of celebrating its 8th year anniversary with friends and partners alike of the campaign. Mmoho Steering Committee member Siphesihle Bhengu commemorated this great milestone by hosting a youth dialogue in his province of Kwa-Zulu Natal that was attended by 24 young people from across the province. The purpose of the engagement was to share the strides made by the campaign since its inception, rebranding updates, and an invitation for all partners, especially young people to continue engaging and contributing to the success of the campaign. The session was also an opportunity to facilitate a conversation about finding solutions to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services in the province, particularly on the rising number of unplanned pregnancies, the incidence rate of HIV/STIs, and unsafe abortions that have been accessed by young people.
Youth working with mmoho, March 2022, Johannesburg
Dynamic Youth Crew (DYC) founded by Tshweu Mosedi, a long-standing partner of the mmoho Campaign, hosted a youth-led dialogue that focused on the re-introduction of the mmoho Campaign to young people. This event was intended to reignite the mmoho Campaign following the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Part of the activities of the day included the re-launch of the slogan and taglines of the mmoho Campaign and the commemoration of its 8th anniversary. Additionally, the event created a platform for young people to engage and discuss relevant messaging on a variety of sexual and reproductive health topics including HIV and teenage pregnancy.
March against unsafe and illegal abortions, February 2022, Rustenburg
In February 2022, Ibis and the mmoho campaign participated and supported the march against unsafe and illegal abortions. This was conducted in partnership with the National Department of Health as part of our efforts to improve and expand safe abortion provision across South Africa. The march began at the Rustenburg Municipal offices and ended at the Rustenburg taxi rank where the crowd was addressed by various MECs and the Mayor emphasising the importance of making use of public health facilities.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education Youth Hike, October 2021, Johannesburg
In October 2021, mmoho hosted a youth hike as part of our broader objective at Ibis to increase and mobilize support for CSE for in and out of school young people. The hike was attended by young people from different South African provinces. The hike commenced with a 5km trail, followed by a dialogue with young people. The dialogue covered various topics such as contraception and abortion.
Walk in Colour Fun Walk, August 2021, Klerksdorp
Bloyta Projects hosted its 4th annual collaborative social initiative on August 28th at the Klerksdorp Museum in the City of Matlosana, with various youth owned and led entities called the Walk in Color Fun Walk. The initiative’s purpose was to;
-
Achieve Cheka Impilo and NSP objective by creating awareness around the social aspects that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS and TB as well as other non-communicable diseases to promote prevention and early intervention
-
Advocate and create awareness around Pre and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP) for HIV/AIDS prevention
-
Promote youth development and economic participation at grass roots level
The Mmoho Campaign took part in the various activities of the day, and were able to support the attendance of over 30 young people who came from our youth-led partners Stand Up For Girls and Dynamic Youth Crew (DYC), as well as learners from BA Seobi and Boitshoko high schools.