Our Voices, Our Choices: Transforming Perceptions on Reproductive Justice

 

 The Safe Abortion Care in Lira City, Northern Uganda

Lira City, like many parts of Northern Uganda, faces deeply entrenched stigma surrounding abortion care and reproductive rights. Harmful social norms, misinformation, and restrictive policies continue to limit access to safe abortion care and reproductive justice, disproportionately affecting women and marginalized groups. This project seeks to challenge these negative norms by leveraging community-driven approaches, innovative storytelling, and digital advocacy to amplify positive narratives and increase awareness of reproductive health rights.

Despite legal provisions allowing abortion under certain circumstances, stigma, cultural beliefs, and misinformation create significant barriers to safe abortion care in Lira City. Many individuals fear judgment, face rejection, or resort to unsafe procedures due to lack of awareness and access. Shifting social norms and amplifying truthful, empowering narratives are essential steps toward ensuring reproductive autonomy and justice.

In the last 5 years, Youth Lens Hub have contributed in to the Progress of abortion rights and access that improve reproductive justice through a number of key achievements which includes; Increased recognition of reproductive rights as human rights, shaping policy discussions by engaging with the rights holder; Increased awareness of Uganda’s legal provisions allowing abortion under certain circumstances, leading to improved access to safe post-abortion care; Expanded access to safe abortion services through trained healthcare providers for both public and private health facilities; Strengthened post-abortion care frameworks, reducing maternal mortality rates linked to unsafe procedures. Improved community engagement and grassroots mobilization through increased youth-led advocacy, fostering open conversations on reproductive justice in Lira, Youth-driven initiatives has been mobilizing peer educators to counter misinformation and de-stigmatize reproductive health discussions; Amplified positive narratives through Radio, Social media and storytelling campaigns that has led to reduction of stigma and enhanced awareness and accessibility; We have also created safe spaces for dialogue, challenging abortion stigma and promoting fact-based reproductive health resources through social media advocacy. These achievements demonstrate the growing momentum in shifting harmful norms while amplifying positive narratives in Lira City and Northern Uganda.  

To directly challenge harmful norms while amplifying empowering narratives about abortion care and reproductive justice Youth Lens Hub uses the following approached indicated below;

1- Community Mobilization and Support Network; The program organized community, safe space dialogues, and mentorship programs for reproductive rights and awareness, Train peer educators to counter misinformation within youth and vulnerable groups, Establish anonymous help-lines for reproductive health guidance. These will challenges cultural taboos by creating safe spaces for open discussions and education, reducing fear and discrimination. Empowers peer educators and local advocates to spread accurate information and normalize abortion care within the community.

2- Storytelling and Media Campaigns; The program produced short films, testimonials, podcasts, and digital content featuring real stories to counter misinformation and stigma by humanizing abortion care through real-life testimonials, documentaries and media campaigns. Partner with local journalists, influencers, and activists to amplify discussions. Launch community radio programs to promote reproductive justice messages. These will therefore, by showcasing stories of safe, legal, and compassionate care, it encourages openness and shifts public perceptions toward reproductive rights as essential healthcare.

3- Use of Digital Innovation and Emergency Technologies; The program developed a mobile-friendly chatbot to provide accurate reproductive health information. Use interactive social media campaigns to engage youth and break abortion myths. Introduce SMS outreach programs to connect individuals with safe healthcare options. These will provides facts-based, accessible information through AI-powered chatbots mobile apps, and social media to debunk myths; engage youth and digital communities with interactive, user-friendly platforms that frame reproductive health as a right, not a taboo.

4- Policy Advocacy & Institutional Collaborations; The program engaged local policymakers to improve reproductive health services in Lira City by reforming restrictive laws and advocate for policies that protect reproductive health care access; Collaborate with healthcare providers for professional training on abortion care hence strengthened partnerships with health care institutions to train professional in compassionate, patient-centered abortion care, and working with legal experts to ensure protection of reproductive rights and access to care.

These strategies will disrupt stigma and build a supportive, informed society where abortion and abortion care is understood as a fundamental part of reproductive justice, and when successfully documented, it can be adapted for replication in other districts, regions and ensuring long-term impact and broader reach.