MSI Australia celebrates abortion access wins

31 Aug, 2022 | Advocacy, Equity and access, Media, Reproductive coercion, Safe access

As families prepare to gather for Christmas, there’s a hidden crisis intensifying behind closed doors: reproductive violence, where someone uses coercion, manipulation, pressure or control to dictate another person’s reproductive choices, is affecting thousands of women and pregnant people across our region.

1 in 3 women globally will experience reproductive coercion in their lifetime, including sabotage of contraception, forced pregnancy, prevention or pressure related to abortion care, and financial or emotional threats linked to reproductive decisions.^[1]

In Australia, around 1 in 5 women accessing abortion services report some form of coercion or control from a partner, and frontline counsellors say cases are becoming more complex, particularly during holiday periods when isolation and family pressure escalate.^[2]

“Reproductive violence remains largely invisible, but it is happening right now, in homes, relationships, and families across Australia and the world,” said Grishma Bista, CEO, MSI Asia Pacific.

“No one should face abuse, pressure, or control over their reproductive choices. Access to safe, confidential care is essential, especially at a time of year when family dynamics can amplify risk.”

Holiday season increases risk

The end of the year is a peak period for relationship stress, financial pressure, travel, family expectation and isolation from support networks, all factors that increase risk of reproductive violence and reduce access to help.

MSI Australia’s psychosocial team reports a surge in women disclosing lack of control, fear, or pressure from partners in the lead up to Christmas, particularly around continuing or ending a pregnancy.

“We regularly support clients who are frightened, confused, or unsure if what they are experiencing is abuse,” said Alison Fonseca, Psychosocial Health Manager at MSI Australia.

“Reproductive violence can look like sabotaging contraception, hiding medication, pressuring someone to continue or terminate a pregnancy, or threatening to withdraw financial support. It is gendered violence, and it has devastating consequences.”

Regional impact demands regional action

Across the world, reproductive coercion is deeply connected to gender inequality, stigma, economic dependence, and access to health services. In many countries, there are no legal safeguards, limited counselling services, and severe stigma around reproductive healthcare.

“At MSI, we see resilience every day, people finding the courage to seek help, make their own decisions, and protect their future,” Ms Bista said.

“But access to safe pathways must be funded, protected and strengthened.”

Campaign launching: Help us support safety, choice and care

This Christmas, MSI is launching a donation campaign to support people experiencing reproductive violence, here and overseas.

Funds raised will:

Provide emergency psychosocial support including counselling
Cover the cost of abortion or contraception care for people facing coercion
Support local services in countries where reproductive violence is rarely acknowledged

Every donation, large or small, helps someone make a decision free from control, fear and pressure.

“No one should be forced into or out of a pregnancy,” Ms Fonseca said.

“With community support, we can make sure reproductive choices belong to the person, not their partner, not their family, and not their circumstances.”

Key facts

1 in 5 Australian women seeking abortion report pressure or coercion related to pregnancy decisions
Only 12 out of 43 Asia Pacific countries have legislation enshrining the right to choose the number, timing, and spacing of children ^[3]
Reproductive violence is one of the least recognised forms of gender-based violence, despite being reported in clinical and counselling settings worldwide ^[4]
Family violence is consistently one of the high-recorded months for family violence incidents ^[5]

[1] World Health Organisation. (2021)

[2] MSI Australia. (2020). Hidden Forces: Shining a light on reproductive coercion white paper

[3] IPPF. (2023). Asia Pacific Contraception Policy Atlas.

[4] Tarzia & McKenzie. (2024). Reproductive coercion and abuse in intimate relationships: Women’s perceptions of perpetrator motivations

[5] Crime Statistics Agency. (2025). Family Incidents

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For more information contact Anna Jabour on 0403 322 992

State and territory governments across the country have committed to action for abortion access since Roe v Wade.

The ACT has announced free abortion access for all from mid-2023, Western Australia has committed to take abortion out of the criminal code and Queensland has announced regional surgical abortion services will commence.

Abortion services are finally legal in South Australia, the Victorian Government has opened three regional clinics for medical abortion and the Tasmanian Government has released an important and timely report into access issues women on temporary visas face.

MSI Australia Managing Director Jamal Hakim welcomed moves to provide better access to abortion and repeated calls for a national abortion taskforce.

“It has been heartening to see commitments to improve abortion access across the country.

“Governments in the ACT, Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, and South Australia have all made commitments to improve abortion access for women and pregnant people.

“We welcome each and every commitment but there is still a long road to embed universal access to abortion care in our health systems.

“Every week, women and pregnant people in Australia who have no access to public funded services request financial support to access abortion care.

“In particular, people on temporary visas in Australia face extraordinary barriers to abortion care.

“Reproductive rights are about healthcare access for all, not for some.

“Universal abortion access means the Government subsidises the cost of abortion, for anyone in Australia, regardless of their postcode.

“There does need to be a national approach with a national taskforce focussed on access and funding issues.”

Snapshot of abortion commitments

ACT: The ACT Government will ensure Canberrans have access to safe, accessible and affordable abortion services with funding for free medical and surgical abortions up to 16 weeks. This will include people on temporary visas. Source: ACT Government

Queensland: Local surgical abortion services have been announced in Central Queensland and Townsville, with a view to improve service provision throughout the state. Source: AAP / Yahoo. [Original on archive.org].

South Australia: More than 15 months after being passed by Parliament, the Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021 became health law in South Australia on 7 July 2022. The new laws saw people’s access to abortion removed from South Australia’s criminal laws. Source: Human Rights Law Centre

Victoria: The Victorian government has announced three additional reproductive health clinics in regional Victoria in hopes of improving equitable access to abortions and contraceptives. The hubs, in Morwell, Shepparton and Warrnambool, will provide access to a medical termination up to nine weeks of pregnancy. Source: ABC

Western Australia: WA’s Health Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson has expressed support for reforming the state’s abortion laws. “We want to take it out of the Criminal Code completely… and look at the Ministerial Panel around late-term abortions.” Source: ABC

View a summary of current abortion laws across states and territories and the latest Australian Abortion Access Scorecard.

Donate to the Australian Choice Fund to support people experiencing financial hardship or other barriers to healthcare.

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For further information contact Anna Jabour on 0428 396 391.

MSI Australia is a national not for profit provider of sexual and reproductive health services including permanent and long-acting reversible contraception and abortion care. For more information on our clinic network visit msiaustralia.org.au.