After Rio+20’s dismal outcomes, one cannot help but wonder what might happen in London this July at the Global Family Planning Summit. Will world leaders gathering to discuss funds for family planning understand that it is an urgent need all over the world, and address family planning as every woman’s right?

Marianne Mollman discusses her hopes and concerns in a fantastic article published on Reality Check. She expresses concern for the poor women living in wealthy countries, who have lesser access to contraception, safe abortions and maternal care than wealthy women in developing countries.

ASAP’s main concern is safe abortions. Unsafe methods cause the death of over 47000 women every year, and cause complications in another 5 million, according to WHO’s updated guidelines on safe abortions. The lack of comprehensive legislations, or the existence of a restrictive law is to blame. It is therefore the need of the hour to address safe abortions as a reproductive right, and to specifically instruct countries to allot funds toward abortion.

But if conservative views prevail again, the summit might address family planning issues with no particular emphasis on abortions. The problem with such discussions is that it empowers governments rather than women to have the last word on abortions. And more often than not, such curtailed rights affect the woman’s health, and her life. Hopefully conservative participants will use their best judgement and make an ethical decision.