September 28 of every year is designated as International Safe Abortion Day. This year’s slogan is Diverse Actions, Different Places, One Demand: Access to Safe & Legal Abortion NOW! (Join diverse campaigns in different countries under one goal: Access to safe and legal abortion immediately!)
In 2023, the International Safe Abortion Day campaign in Thailand is held for the 10th time under the theme Road map to safe and legal abortion or “The path to safe, worry-free, and non-stigmatized abortion.”
This year, a coalition of 20 organizations working on women’s rights and health, reproductive health, unplanned pregnancy counseling, and safe abortion have come together to organize a campaign platform to help Thai society see and understand the steps to accessing safe abortion concretely. From realizing you might be pregnant, how to test for pregnancy, what to do if you’re not ready, is choosing abortion illegal, where can you get advice, how to calculate gestational age, how to access safe services, how much to prepare for expenses, what are the methods of abortion,
what to expect at the clinic, using medication at home and care, and finally, strengthening your mental health. All these steps will be presented in a monologue or Ted Talk style by practitioners in various steps, including counselors, social workers, doctors, nurses, and women with experience, in a step-by-step manner to help Thai society understand the current path to safe abortion.
There will also be an open discussion for over 90 participants in the room, and at the end, representatives from the 20 organizations will issue a statement with proposals to various sectors of Thai society to call for the creation of a path to safe, legal, worry-free, and non-stigmatized abortion. This aligns with the population strategy for quality births, allowing women to become pregnant when ready and intentional, to give birth to healthy mothers and children, and to be prepared to raise the child to grow up with quality.
Watch the replay at https://fb.watch/nd2vxFSOaV/
Opening remarks and program conducted by Associate Professor Dr. Kritaya Archavanitkul and Khun Jittima Phanutecha
Speakers
What to do when you realize you might be pregnant? How to test for pregnancy? : Khun Saranya Ketjan, Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling Hotline 1663
If pregnant and not ready, what to do next? : Khun Chanthita Kraisrikul, Tam Tang Group
Is choosing abortion illegal? : Khun Supecha Baotip, Tam Tang Group
Where can you get advice for unplanned pregnancy? : Khun Atchara Kaewpradit, Unplanned Pregnancy Counseling Hotline 1663
Deciding on abortion, what you need to know is how far along is the pregnancy? : Khun Sasithorn Moolsing, Samut Prakan Hospital
How to access abortion services? : Dr. Boonrit Sukrat, Bureau of Reproductive Health
How much to prepare for abortion expenses? : Khun Nattanun Ploypradab, Tam Tang Group
What are the methods of abortion? : Dr. Orawee Chintakananda, Ramathibodi Hospital
What to expect at the clinic? : Khun Ladda Paengprasith, Singburi Hospital
Medication use, abortion, and post-abortion care at home : Khun Warunee Tangsiri, Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand
Strengthening mental health and contraception : Khun Nisarath Jongvisal, Tam Tang Group