Hello! It’s that time of the year again (and how quickly they seem to fly!)

We all start taking stock of the year that has been and start looking forward to the year that will be. Of course, the dates and calendars are just an artificial devise to make sense of our time and lives and give us a sense of purpose ………and look forward to weekends J

But it is also good to look back and see what went well and feel a sense of hope for the coming months.

We found that in 2014 we had more things to be grateful for with safe abortion issues than to despair about.

That is not to say that there isn’t a large body of anti- choice persons , growing every day, fuelled by religious dogma, private and Church funding, working on its anti –women agenda all the time………but there are also people like us !

Holding the line, hoping to push our agenda forward, spreading the word that safe abortion is a human right and reminding ourselves that we need the stamina and strength to keep going for another year.

So, as we prepare to welcome 2015, here is the best and worst of 2014

Best of 2014:

A feisty pregnant woman walking past anti-choice protestors gives them an earful J

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/a-pregnant-woman-slams-anti-abortion-protesters-outside-a-cl

The global trend of countries amending laws to expand access to safe abortion continues!

http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/new-report-global-trend-of-expanding-legal-abortion-services-continues

France will now fully reimburse all 1st trimester abortions. Amazing!

http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2014/08/11/france-to-allow-fully-reimbursed-abortions-without-requiring-justification/

Finally, a mainstream Hollywood film that includes an abortion in its storyline…….and life can go on

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/24/living/obvious-child-abortion-romcom-relate/

Feminist writer Katha Pollitt says in her new book “Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights,” that abortion is a “moral right” and a “social good,” and it should be seen as a normal part of a woman’s reproductive life.

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-10-08/katha-pollitt-pro-reclaiming-abortion-rights

Worst of 2014

A Nepali migrant worker has become the first woman in Malaysia to face imprisonment for undergoing an abortion. The law in both Nepal and Malaysia allow abortions! Activist’s in both countries are challenging this arrest and working for Nirmala Thapa’s release.

http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/12/06/capital/nepali-woman-sentenced-to-jail-in-malaysia-for-abortion/398620.html

We will now take a break for the end of the year and we will be back on 1st January 2015 with a series of wonderful blogposts written by our new Youth Champions. So watch out for it and talk to you soon!