Every year on September 28th, a global movement rises to observe International Safe Abortion Day. It is a day of mobilization, advocacy, and a crucial centering of the voices too often silenced by restrictive laws and dangerous back-alley procedures.

In 2025, the theme cuts to the very heart of the matter: “Safe Abortion is Life-saving Healthcare!” This is not a slogan; it is a stark reminder of the urgent, unmet need to protect women’s lives by guaranteeing access to safe, legal, and compassionate abortion care.

Behind the chilling statistics from the World Health Organization—which state that nearly half of all abortions globally are unsafe—lie the shattered lives and futures of real women. These are not mere numbers. They are mothers, students, and partners whose potential is cut short not by choice, but by a devastating lack of access to safe services.

This transforms a fundamental health issue into a profound human rights crisis. When restrictive laws, pervasive stigma, and deliberate misinformation converge, they create a desperate pathway to unsafe procedures. In contrast, safe abortion care is a cornerstone of dignity, allowing women to reclaim autonomy over their bodies, their families, and their futures, enabling them to participate fully and equally in society.

Here in Kenya and across Africa, the conversation is too often clouded by moral judgment and falsehoods. Yet, the evidence speaks a truth we can no longer ignore: unsafe abortion remains a leading cause of maternal mortality.

The women most affected often defy the common stereotypes; they are frequently married, are young mothers, or are students striving to build a better life. This reality confirms that abortion is not an abstract debate but a part of countless women’s lived experiences. It is a healthcare need that should be met in professional medical facilities without fear, judgment, or discrimination.

Denying access to safe abortion does not stop it from happening; it only makes it deadly. As we mark this day, we must affirm a fundamental truth: women deserve healthcare that is safe, legal, affordable, and respectful. To protect reproductive rights is to protect life, dignity, and the very principle of equality.

Our path forward is clear. We must build a comprehensive healthcare system that respects women’s choices and bodily autonomy. This includes upholding the provisions of Article 26(4) of the Kenyan Constitution, which permits abortion when a woman’s life or health is in danger.

The tragic irony is that even amidst the loudest anti-abortion rhetoric, women have and will continue to seek these services, as they have for generations. The critical question is not if they will seek care, but where. We can either continue to push them into the shadows toward dangerous alternatives, or we can fulfill our ethical and legal duty to provide safe, discreet, and professional services.

Ensuring access to safe abortion is not a moral concession; it is a fundamental human right. It is, quite literally, a life-saving imperative.

Miss Nthiana is a sexual and reproductive health advocate.