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Abortion Without Borders helped 1,814 Ukrainian people access abortion since the start of the war

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Abortion Without Borders has helped 1,814 Ukrainian people access an abortion since the start of the war, one year ago today (24 February).

  • The vast majority of these were able to access safe abortion pills from Women Help Women
  • 30 Ukrainians travelled abroad for an abortion in another European country
  • Network provided almost £50,000 in financial support for Ukrainian clients

Abortion Without Borders is an initiative of six organisations in Europe, who provide information, access to abortion pills, logistical support and creative problem solving to connect people to the abortions they seek, including for those who have to travel for a procedure in another country.

The vast majority of people helped by AWB terminated their pregnancies with abortion pills they obtained from Women Help Women. WHW also facilitated the transfer of 40,000 packs of abortion pills and 100,000 morning-after pills to feminist organisations operating in Ukraine so that they could distribute them to people on the ground. The network published instructions for ordering and taking abortion pills in Ukrainian and Russian in March 2022.

30 people travelled to a clinic or hospital abroad for second trimester abortions, many of whom had been diagnosed with foetal abnormalities but denied an abortion in Poland and other neighbouring countries. Abortion Support Network, a UK charity and member of the network, spent £18,915 supporting 13 clients to travel for an abortion, covering the costs of procedures, medical tests, travel, accommodation and visas. In total the network spent £49,913 on financial assistance, not including the medications sent into Ukraine.

Sam Smethers, interim CEO of ASN said:

“People from Ukraine who need abortion care are facing extremely complex and challenging circumstances. Partly for this reason, the amount required to help individual Ukrainian clients over the last year has been twice the amount of our average client grant. We’re glad we’ve been able to work with our partners in AWB to adapt to the new challenge of this conflict. We will continue to support everyone we can, no matter their nationality or migration status.”