My Choice, Our Choice

Bayethe Development Institute, in partnership with SAfAIDS rolled out the regional ‘My Choice: Our Choice’ Campaign on ending unsafe abortion among AGYW in the SADC Region. Aligned to the Campaign were a series of Sectoral Leadership Policy Advocacy Dialogues, held within the SAfAIDS PRTHJ Model 4. These Dialogues motivated, mobilised and engaged policy-makers (including Parliamentarians), religious and traditional leadership, towards generating a harmonised Regional Roadmap which defined their intent and commitment, and how, to address unsafe abortions – as a matter of reducing maternal mortality rates, health economy burdens, preserving human and social development and saving lives. The Campaign and the Dialogues reinforced messaging for policy-makers and leadership; and advocacy angle from an evidence, rights and development angle – shifting controversial discourse away from moralistic angles. The Campaign contributed towards a SADC region where adolescent girls and young women can access, free from judgment or discrimination, safe and legal abortion services, with support from policy makers, men and boys, and community leaders.