ABORTION PILLS PROJECT
MY UTERUS, MY CHOICE, MY FREEDOM — MOROCCO
IN MOROCCO, ABORTION IS PUNISHABLE BY JAIL*
- Worldwide, 25 million unsafe abortions are performed per year, representing almost half of all abortions (source: WHO/Guttmacher Institute).
- A woman dies every 9 minutes as a result of an unsafe abortion.
- 97% of unsafe abortions are carried out in developing countries.
- In Africa, the risk of dying following an unsafe abortion is highest.
- Morocco has 800 unsafe/illegal abortions a day (source: AMLAC).
HELP DECRIMINALIZE ABORTION!
An urgent medical need and human right.
In Morocco, access to health care is one of the rights denied to thousands of women, particularly when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health.
Restrictive anti-abortion legislation endangers the health and lives of thousands of girls and women. Additionally, the health crisis linked to the coronavirus and containment measures has had a dramatic impact on access to abortion, particularly in countries where abortion is restricted or banned. Prohibition not only violates the right of every woman to freely dispose of her body — i.e. to choose whether or not to have a child, and when — but also has disastrous consequences for reproductive health. Women are forced to resort to clandestine methods.
The right to safe and legal abortion is a question of public health and social justice.
In fact, economic status and place of residence are likely to influence the most dangerous clandestine practices. Unsafe abortion disproportionately affects the health and lives of women in rural and remote areas.
Officially, ‘abortion’ is permitted when the pregnancy endangers the health or life of the pregnant woman. This is known as ‘medical pregnancy termination’ or ‘therapeutic abortion’, and not abortion as a woman’s choice. And the husband’s permission is required.
The penal code provides for sentences of up to 2 years imprisonment for a woman who has an abortion, 1 to 5 years for anyone who performs an abortion on another person, 10 to 20 years if the patient dies, and up to 30 years if the ‘offense’ is repeated.
Our feminist, universalist and secular movement, M.A.L.I. (Mouvement Alternatif pour les Libertés Individuelles/Alternative Movement For Individual Liberties) was founded in 2009. Its aim is to fight against socio-religious inquisition, draconian and sexist laws, break taboos and confront public opinion on individual liberties and women’s rights.
As a feminist pro-choice movement, we have made sexual and reproductive rights a priority:
- decriminalization of sexual relations outside marriage — punishable by 1 year’s imprisonment under article 490 of the penal code, decriminalization of homosexuality — punishable by 3 years’ imprisonment under article 489, decriminalization of adultery — punishable by two years’ imprisonment under article 491
- access to sexual health education and contraceptive methods
- decriminalization of abortion: M.A.L.I. has been fighting since 2012 to prevent unsafe abortions and for legal abortion, for what should be a right for all women. We trust that women can do a medical abortion themselves and make sure that women have access to medical abortion and information through our campaigns and actions.
Because illegal/unsafe abortion is a major cause of ‘maternal’ mortality. Because women have always had and will continue to have abortions. Because the prohibition of abortion does not prevent its illegal practice. Because the obligation to continue an unwanted pregnancy makes it a high-risk pregnancy. Because we don’t have abortions by chance, or for pleasure, or lightly. Because our bodies and our health belong to us. And because we are free women, we defend the right to abortion.
- We demand the repeal of articles 449 to 458 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which condemn all women who resort to abortion or who attempt to do so, as well as anyone who aids and abets them, including doctors. Let’s put an end to clandestine practices, which carry many dangers, by offering legal, controlled and sanitary means of abortion in order to save lives.
WHAT WILL THE FUNDS BE USED FOR?
We provide FREE access to safe abortion pills.
The right to abortion has become difficult, if not impossible, in many countries. The action of activists is both to help women who wish to have an abortion and to demand respect for an inalienable right.
Fighting for the decriminalization of abortion means demonstrating, taking to the streets, setting up campaigns and actions but also helping, voluntarly and free of charge, women who want to end an unwanted pregnancy to have an abortion with a medication:
Misoprostol only (not sold in Morocco) or Mifepristone + Misoprostol (protocol more efficient), that are very difficult to obtain which enables a medical abortion to be carried out. During the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, abortion pills are highly effective way of achieving a safe abortion.
WHY DO WE NEED YOUR HELP?
To fully develop this program: to finance campaigns to raise public awareness of the right to abortion, through campaigns and events/actions; and to enable us to support as many women as possible who wish to have an abortion. They need us and need you to help them in their choice and their abortion process.
To carry out a collective action of mutual aid and solidarity in favor of the most vulnerable and financially disadvantaged women.
Unsafe abortion is male violence against girls and women, and in our fight against sex-based violence, we want to put an end to the patriarchal hypocrisy that expresses condescension towards women’s reproductive autonomy and emancipation.
The risks associated with unsafe abortions are numerous, because when they don’t result in the death of young women, they can lead to complications: hemorrhage, infection, uterine perforation, damage to the genital tract and internal organs, and some women have their entire reproductive tract removed.
Going underground also has psychological consequences: anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, suicidal thoughts…
We hope to raise the sum needed to provide support for women wishing to end an unwanted pregnancy, and to guarantee access to safe abortion, particularly for women in rural areas, by means of medical abortion — Indeed, since our action in 2012 with our partner the Dutch NGO Women on Waves (https://www.womenonwaves.org/fr/), we have been carrying out this practice as far as possible, in compliance with the protocol recommended by the WHO (World Health Organization) used by many NGOs. The latter considers that medical abortion can be self-managed up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, and that it presents no risk if performed and supervised by competent individuals who follow the WHO recommended method.
WHAT WILL YOUR DONATIONS BE USED FOR?
Each penny helps.
So don’t hesitate to contribute, no matter how small it may seem.
Your donations will enable us to provide the best possible support to women.
To give you an idea:
1 box of Artotec/Misoprostol (40 tablets) = 3 abortions — A pregnant woman needs 12 pills to get an abortion.
- 13 euros: 50 stickers printed or a box of Artotec
- 40 euros: 3 boxes of Artotec
- 11 euros: 1 box of Mifepristone (2 pills)
- 50 euros: Printing of 250 stickers or monthly compensation for a person responsible for managing messages received from pregnant women on the Helpline (Instagram Account @m.a.l.i.2009)
- 250 euros: 20 boxes of Artotec
We need your help to END THE STIGMATIZATION OF ABORTION!
SUPPORT OUR MOVEMENT! SUPPORT WOMEN!
OUR SLOGAN: ABORTION RIGHTS FOR ALL WOMEN. WOMEN DECIDE.
Follow Us https://www.instagram.com/m.a.l.i.2009/
PayPal : mali.maroc2009@gmail.com
