Group/Organization: initiative group

Location: Sukhum/i, Abkhazia

Year: 2016-2017

This is a campaign of an informal initiative group that was founded by volunteers of the non-governmental organizations Center of Humanitarian Programs and Association of Women of Abkhazia. The campaign reacts to the new Abkhaz legislation adopted in January 2016, which introduced an absolute prohibition on abortion. As a result, it is currently not possible to terminate a pregnancy even in cases of threat to health or life or in cases of rape. An artificially induced termination of pregnancy is now subject to criminal liability in Abkhazia and the new legislation provoked “abortion tourism” of Abkhaz inhabitants to neighboring countries (both to Georgia and Russia).

There is a concern that “illegal abortion clinics” will emerge in Abkhazia. The campaign aims at abolition of the absolute ban on abortion, it plans to develop pressure for creating support places for women that face the decision and for identifying other ways of help in this life situation. The initiative will use a broad public campaign (surveys, TV reports and spots, public discussions, other media exposure and experts´ reports). These activities will address the selected target groups and inform them about the dangers arising from the current absolute prohibition.

The campaign will encourage the search for other ways to help the women in a difficult situation.