Explained: The global rise in anti-abortion protests and ‘40 Days for Life’

Global rise in anti-choice protests

Anti-choice groups have grown bolder in their attempts to undermine progress and our right to choose.

MSI teams across the world are seeing these well-funded, globally connected groups increasingly attack gender equality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

They’re spreading disinformation online. Starting lawsuits to try to intimidate and censor us. Instigating police raids of clinics. Attempting to block policies that would support reproductive choice, like having sex education in schools.

Earlier this year, conferences were held in Africa (attended by ultra-conservative campaigners from the US) that claimed to focus on ‘protecting human life’ and ‘strengthening the family’, but instead pushed an agenda to ban abortion and oppose LGBTQ+ rights.

In Addis Ababa, a vehicle has stationed itself outside MSI’s clinic with the words “Pray to end abortion in Ethiopia” printed on it for all to see as they attend appointments.

Some MSI staff and clients have been harassed and intimidated by anti-rights groups outside clinics.

In Mexico, people have been diverted to fake clinics after searching for abortion services online. These ‘clinics’ claim to offer abortion services, but instead tell people dangerous misinformation to scare them out of their decision.

In the UK, our partners at Amnesty reported that over £100 million has been spent by anti-rights groups recently to roll back the rights we’ve fought hard to win.

The rise of activity pushing an anti-choice agenda poses a significant threat to human rights everywhere, and our access to healthcare.

What is 40 Days for Life?

40 Days for Life is an annual event of round-the-clock protests outside abortion clinics for 40 days.

Anti-choice people stand outside clinics and have been known to intimidate, insult, and film people accessing and providing abortion care, or tried to block people from getting inside.

It is a US-based campaign that has now extended across the world. In several countries globally, they have publicly listed MSI clinics as targets for harassment.

Safe access zones in the UK

Safe access zones – also known as buffer zones – stop people from standing outside abortion clinics.

MSI joined partners in the UK to campaign for these zones, and we won. In 2024, the UK Government established 150 metre safe access zones around abortion clinics in England and Wales – meaning people can’t stand and intimidate people outside our clinics anymore. Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar legislation.

It has sent a strong message to anti-choice groups everywhere that nobody should be harassed while accessing healthcare.

In previous years in the UK, women have been spat at on their way into our clinics, and MSI staff have been called ‘murderers’. The buffer zones have been met with overwhelming positivity, with people no longer harangued by strangers about personal healthcare decisions they have already made.

Safe access zones in the UK have made a huge difference to healthcare workers and to women exercising their reproductive rights.

With an escalation of anti-choice activity in recent years, safe access zones are an important avenue for protecting abortion care and the people at the heart of it.

Learn more about abortion rights in the UK and around the world.

How to support abortion and our right to choose

Each of us has a role to play in supporting abortion and protecting our right to choose.

Over decades, passionate campaigners, lawmakers and health workers have expanded access to reproductive healthcare across the globe. The progress we’ve seen has been phenomenal – it has changed and saved lives.

In the face of surging anti-choice protests, we won’t be backing down. We’ve fought hard for our rights and we’ll fight even harder to keep them.

From our advocacy work securing law and policy wins for reproductive rights, to calling out harmful disinformation, and fighting to protect choice globally after Roe v Wade was overturned, we’re doing all we can to safeguard our rights. The more voices and people on our side, the more powerful our fight.