At its core, the discussion challenged the persistent framing of abortion as controversial or exceptional. Instead, the speakers repositioned it within the framework of human rights, where it belongs. As widely recognised in international health and rights frameworks, reproductive rights include the ability to make decisions about one’s body free from coercion, discrimination, and violence, including access to safe abortion services. Yet, as the session made clear, this recognition remains uneven in practice. Across many countries, abortion is still restricted, criminalised, or heavily stigmatised, creating conditions where people are forced to navigate unsafe alternatives or carry pregnancies against their will.
Debanjana Choudhuri opened the conversation with a critical reflection on how abortion is often removed from its human context. Too frequently, it is discussed in legal or political terms, detached from the lived realities of those who seek it. This abstraction allows systems to ignore the complexity of people's lives - the economic pressures, health risks, social stigma, and personal circumstances that shape reproductive decisions. Debanjana emphasised that when abortion is framed as a moral dilemma rather than a human right, it becomes easier to justify restrictions that disproportionately harm those who are already marginalised. Debanjana is a noted feminist and gender equality and rights crusader.
This marginalisation is not accidental; it is structural. Pauline Fernandez brought this into sharp focus through her work in the Philippines, where abortion remains illegal in all circumstances. In such contexts, the consequences are not theoretical - they are immediate and often devastating. Women and pregnant people are pushed into unsafe procedures, risking their health and lives, while also facing legal repercussions and social stigma. Pauline highlighted how restrictive laws do not eliminate abortion; they simply make it more dangerous. This reality underscores a key point echoed throughout the session: denying access to safe abortion does not protect life—it endangers it. Pauline coordinates PINSAN (Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network).
The discussion also revealed how stigma operates as a powerful barrier, even in places where abortion may be legally permitted. Silence, shame, and misinformation create environments where people are unable to seek accurate information or care. Kalpana Acharya, drawing on her experience in Nepal and as a media practitioner, emphasised the role of storytelling in challenging this stigma. Media narratives shape how abortion is understood - whether as a right, a taboo, or a crisis. When stories are told without nuance or empathy, they reinforce fear and judgement. But when storytelling centres lived experiences, it has the power to shift perceptions, making space for understanding and compassion. Kalpana is a multiple award-winning journalist and editor from Nepal. She leads Health TV Online as Editor-in-Chief and Hosts Health First Podcast.
This connection between media and rights was further developed by Shobha Shukla, who underscored that abortion rights cannot be separated from broader struggles for bodily autonomy and gender equality. She argued that the ongoing contestation around abortion reflects deeper anxieties about control - who has the authority to make decisions about bodies, and whose choices are considered legitimate. In many contexts, laws and policies continue to prioritise institutional or ideological control over individual autonomy, reinforcing inequalities that affect not only women but also other marginalised groups. Shobha leads CNS as Managing Editor and hosts SHE & Rights to advance gender equality and human right to health as both are inseparable from each other and fundamental human rights.
What made the session particularly powerful was its insistence on grounding these debates in lived realities. Abortion is not an abstract concept—it is a decision made by individuals navigating complex and often difficult circumstances. These decisions are shaped by factors such as access to healthcare, economic stability, cultural expectations, and personal safety. The speakers repeatedly returned to the idea that no one else can fully understand or define these experiences, and therefore no one else should have the authority to dictate them. #BodilyAutonomyMatters.
The human cost of restrictive abortion policies was a recurring theme. Unsafe abortions remain a significant contributor to maternal mortality worldwide, with tens of thousands of deaths each year linked to lack of access to safe procedures. These deaths are preventable, yet they persist because of political resistance, stigma, and unequal access to healthcare. The session made it clear that this is not simply a health issue, but a matter of justice. When individuals are denied the ability to make decisions about their own bodies, their fundamental rights are violated.
At the same time, the conversation acknowledged the complexity of advocating for abortion rights in diverse contexts. Cultural, religious, and political factors all shape how abortion is perceived and regulated. However, the speakers argued that these complexities should not be used as excuses for inaction. Instead, they must be engaged with thoughtfully, recognising that change often requires both local strategies and global solidarity.
A key takeaway from the session was the importance of reframing the conversation. Rather than asking whether abortion should be allowed, the focus must shift to why access to safe abortion is essential for health, equality, and human rights. This shift requires not only policy change but also a transformation in how societies understand and talk about abortion. It requires moving beyond stigma and recognising that reproductive autonomy is a fundamental aspect of human dignity.
The session also highlighted the interconnected nature of reproductive justice. Abortion rights cannot be separated from issues such as access to contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, and broader social inequalities. As reproductive justice frameworks emphasise, the right to not have children is as important as the right to have them, and both are shaped by structural conditions such as poverty, discrimination, and access to healthcare. Addressing abortion rights, therefore, requires a holistic approach that considers the full spectrum of reproductive experiences.
What lingered most strongly from the discussion was a sense of urgency. Across different regions, abortion rights are facing renewed challenges, with increasing restrictions and growing anti-rights movements. These developments threaten not only access to services but also the broader recognition of reproductive autonomy as a human right. In this context, the work of activists, media practitioners, and advocates becomes even more critical.
Ultimately, this session was not just about asserting a principle - it was about defending a reality. Abortion rights are not an abstract ideal; they are a necessary condition for health, equality, and freedom. To deny these rights is to deny individuals the ability to make decisions about their own lives, bodies, and futures. As the speakers made clear, the question is not whether abortion rights are human rights - the question is whether societies are willing to uphold them as such.
In a world where reproductive autonomy remains contested, this conversation served as both a reminder and a call to action. It insisted that the debate must move beyond ideology and return to its core: the recognition of human dignity, and the fundamental right of every individual to decide for themselves.
(Saher Siddiqui was part of CNS team at Women Deliver Conference 2026, and is a Media and Communications student at Monash University, passionate about using storytelling, journalism, and digital media to amplify women’s voices, advocate for gender justice, and drive meaningful social change. Committed to exploring the power of media as a tool for feminist advocacy, representation, and impactful storytelling)
Debanjana Choudhuri opened the conversation with a critical reflection on how abortion is often removed from its human context. Too frequently, it is discussed in legal or political terms, detached from the lived realities of those who seek it. This abstraction allows systems to ignore the complexity of people's lives - the economic pressures, health risks, social stigma, and personal circumstances that shape reproductive decisions. Debanjana emphasised that when abortion is framed as a moral dilemma rather than a human right, it becomes easier to justify restrictions that disproportionately harm those who are already marginalised. Debanjana is a noted feminist and gender equality and rights crusader.
Marginalisation is not accidental, it is structural
This marginalisation is not accidental; it is structural. Pauline Fernandez brought this into sharp focus through her work in the Philippines, where abortion remains illegal in all circumstances. In such contexts, the consequences are not theoretical - they are immediate and often devastating. Women and pregnant people are pushed into unsafe procedures, risking their health and lives, while also facing legal repercussions and social stigma. Pauline highlighted how restrictive laws do not eliminate abortion; they simply make it more dangerous. This reality underscores a key point echoed throughout the session: denying access to safe abortion does not protect life—it endangers it. Pauline coordinates PINSAN (Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network).
The discussion also revealed how stigma operates as a powerful barrier, even in places where abortion may be legally permitted. Silence, shame, and misinformation create environments where people are unable to seek accurate information or care. Kalpana Acharya, drawing on her experience in Nepal and as a media practitioner, emphasised the role of storytelling in challenging this stigma. Media narratives shape how abortion is understood - whether as a right, a taboo, or a crisis. When stories are told without nuance or empathy, they reinforce fear and judgement. But when storytelling centres lived experiences, it has the power to shift perceptions, making space for understanding and compassion. Kalpana is a multiple award-winning journalist and editor from Nepal. She leads Health TV Online as Editor-in-Chief and Hosts Health First Podcast.
This connection between media and rights was further developed by Shobha Shukla, who underscored that abortion rights cannot be separated from broader struggles for bodily autonomy and gender equality. She argued that the ongoing contestation around abortion reflects deeper anxieties about control - who has the authority to make decisions about bodies, and whose choices are considered legitimate. In many contexts, laws and policies continue to prioritise institutional or ideological control over individual autonomy, reinforcing inequalities that affect not only women but also other marginalised groups. Shobha leads CNS as Managing Editor and hosts SHE & Rights to advance gender equality and human right to health as both are inseparable from each other and fundamental human rights.
What made the session particularly powerful was its insistence on grounding these debates in lived realities. Abortion is not an abstract concept—it is a decision made by individuals navigating complex and often difficult circumstances. These decisions are shaped by factors such as access to healthcare, economic stability, cultural expectations, and personal safety. The speakers repeatedly returned to the idea that no one else can fully understand or define these experiences, and therefore no one else should have the authority to dictate them. #BodilyAutonomyMatters.
The human cost of restrictive abortion policies was a recurring theme. Unsafe abortions remain a significant contributor to maternal mortality worldwide, with tens of thousands of deaths each year linked to lack of access to safe procedures. These deaths are preventable, yet they persist because of political resistance, stigma, and unequal access to healthcare. The session made it clear that this is not simply a health issue, but a matter of justice. When individuals are denied the ability to make decisions about their own bodies, their fundamental rights are violated.
At the same time, the conversation acknowledged the complexity of advocating for abortion rights in diverse contexts. Cultural, religious, and political factors all shape how abortion is perceived and regulated. However, the speakers argued that these complexities should not be used as excuses for inaction. Instead, they must be engaged with thoughtfully, recognising that change often requires both local strategies and global solidarity.
A key takeaway from the session was the importance of reframing the conversation. Rather than asking whether abortion should be allowed, the focus must shift to why access to safe abortion is essential for health, equality, and human rights. This shift requires not only policy change but also a transformation in how societies understand and talk about abortion. It requires moving beyond stigma and recognising that reproductive autonomy is a fundamental aspect of human dignity.
The session also highlighted the interconnected nature of reproductive justice. Abortion rights cannot be separated from issues such as access to contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, and broader social inequalities. As reproductive justice frameworks emphasise, the right to not have children is as important as the right to have them, and both are shaped by structural conditions such as poverty, discrimination, and access to healthcare. Addressing abortion rights, therefore, requires a holistic approach that considers the full spectrum of reproductive experiences.
What lingered most strongly from the discussion was a sense of urgency. Across different regions, abortion rights are facing renewed challenges, with increasing restrictions and growing anti-rights movements. These developments threaten not only access to services but also the broader recognition of reproductive autonomy as a human right. In this context, the work of activists, media practitioners, and advocates becomes even more critical.
Ultimately, this session was not just about asserting a principle - it was about defending a reality. Abortion rights are not an abstract ideal; they are a necessary condition for health, equality, and freedom. To deny these rights is to deny individuals the ability to make decisions about their own lives, bodies, and futures. As the speakers made clear, the question is not whether abortion rights are human rights - the question is whether societies are willing to uphold them as such.
In a world where reproductive autonomy remains contested, this conversation served as both a reminder and a call to action. It insisted that the debate must move beyond ideology and return to its core: the recognition of human dignity, and the fundamental right of every individual to decide for themselves.
Saher Siddiqui - CNS
(Citizen News Service)
