Ensuring healthy outcomes: Access to quality abortion care for the health and rights of women and girls

Access to sexual and reproductive health services, in every form, including preventing and safely terminating unwanted pregnancies, is a core human right. The ability to decide if and when to have children, and having access to safe, timely, respectful and person-centred abortion care when needed, promotes the health and well-being of women, girls, their families and their communities – physically, emotionally, and socio-economically. 

Communities around the world are healthier thanks to legions of skilled health workers who are caring for women, girls or other pregnant persons in clinics, and also traveling great distances to deliver quality care in the most remote locations.  

The World Health Organization (WHO) Abortion care guideline promotes an enabling environment in which people are active participants in their care. As people move through the abortion care pathway (pre-abortion, abortion, post-abortion), – health services must be integrated within the health sector to ensure that service delivery meets the needs of women and girls - equitably and without discrimination. 

WHO is proud to share these photos, taken in partnership with Regional Offices, Country Offices and their partners, and with the full informed consent of all participants. With this exhibition, we celebrate the life-saving, life-changing impact of health care workers committed to delivering quality abortion care, including post-abortion care.