The Choices Network, Thailand
The Choices Network, Thailand, or Choices Group, originated from the proposal to “create a new framework for driving the movement so that women facing pregnancy issues and seeking to terminate their pregnancy can access safe and legal abortion services. It must be a matter of women having ‘choices when unprepared,’ by bringing together all sectors of workers involved in all choices when facing an unplanned pregnancy to drive the movement in the form of a network.”[1]
This proposal was put into practice with the push from the Foundation for Understanding Women’s Health (SUK) and the Path to Health Foundation (then PATH Thailand) on April 24, 2007, during a meeting on “Driving the Movement to Support Women’s Choices When Unprepared for Pregnancy.” The meeting was attended by 24 people from 14 organizations, who resolved to establish a loosely organized network with a common goal of creating choices for women facing unplanned pregnancies, whether they wish to terminate the pregnancy or continue it. Regular meetings were held, each time setting discussion topics, providing new information/situations to network members, and hoping to gradually expand the network.
As of now (2018), the Choices Network is entering its 11th year and has held a total of 44 regular meetings. Currently, there are 80 member organizations, including government agencies, private organizations, charitable organizations, and academics working or providing services in knowledge, consultation, prevention, care, assistance, social welfare, and shelters, as well as various research studies.
Pro-Voice Movement Approach
Amidst the situation and debate on abortion, especially in the context of moral politics, the main opposing concepts regarding unplanned pregnancies are the Pro-Life approach and the Pro-Choice approach, both explaining why women facing unplanned pregnancies should choose to carry the pregnancy to term or terminate it. What has been neglected and missing all along is the voice of those women facing unplanned pregnancies themselves (Pro-Voice), which is another concept that supports and respects women’s experiences in choosing their own reproductive lives without bias and stigma.
The goal of the unplanned pregnancy network is to focus on driving the movement to bridge limitations, open all real choices for women facing unplanned pregnancies, and listen to their voices attentively, without bias and stigma.
Objectives
(1) Campaign to prevent unplanned pregnancies by promoting and developing comprehensive sex education, enhancing life skills, and accessing quality and sufficient contraceptive services.
(2) Empower women facing unplanned pregnancies through the development of accessible choice consultation services.
(3) Respond comprehensively to all needs of women facing unplanned pregnancies, whether they wish to terminate the pregnancy or continue it, by developing a referral network for health and social assistance.
(4) Create societal understanding of unplanned pregnancy issues and drive policy changes that align with the problem situation.
4 Areas of Movement
(1) Support and training in choice consultation and empowerment
Lead Organization: Foundation for Understanding Women’s Health
(2) Building a network for safe and legal abortion referrals
Lead Organization: Path to Health Foundation
(3) Assistance and quality continuation of pregnancy
Lead Organization: Sahathai Foundation
(4) Campaign to expand contraceptive services to all population groups
Lead Organization: Bureau of Reproductive Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health
[1] Kritaya Archavanitkul and Kanokwan Tharawan. (2002). Social Movements on the Dimension of Politics of Gender and Women’s Bodies. In Pasuk Phongpaichit et al. (Editors). Ways of Life, Ways of Struggle: Contemporary People’s Movements (34-129). Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books.