‘Liberating Women – Removing Barriers and Increasing Access to Safe Abortion Care’

International Federation of Professional Abortion and Contraception Associates (FIAPAC) 13th Conference, Nantes, France, 14–15 September 2018

This was a successful conference attended by just over 450 delegates from 50 countries. Our very own Sharon Cameron is the current President of FIAPAC and her stamp was firmly on the programme. The title, ‘Liberating women – removing barriers and increasing access to safe abortion care’, was fully addressed by the varied sessions. The programme was intense but there were adequate pauses for networking during which you could feel the buzz in the atmosphere. You can see the full programme at: https://fiapac.org/media/uploads/20180903-programme-layout-website.pdf

After introductory remarks, we witnessed a stage production of a story of a 14-year-old girl who had been raped. The actors were French healthcare professionals and direction and lighting was done by a professional company. This was a moving drama with no props – only chairs and microphones.

Themes covered in detail in the sessions were laws, policies, strategies, stigma, conscientious objection, ethics, travelling for abortion, self-managed abortion, telemedicine, digital technology, pain management, feticide and post-abortion contraception. There were presentations on a wide variety of topics including delivering services in humanitarian settings, in rural areas, for women with complex medical conditions and more. There were in excess of 80 poster presentations and nearly 30 free communications, all of a high standard.

We live in an interconnected world and there is so much to learn from seeing how others do things. Membership of FIAPAC keeps you in touch with what is happening in other countries and is a bargain at €60.00 per year. Just go to: https://fiapac.org/en/home/membership/ to join.

Sam Rowlands

24 October 2018