Social media advocacy, as the name suggests, is using social media and social network platforms to carry out campaigns and bulletins on a particular issue. Below are some examples of social media campaigns for abortion in the last few years:
1. Asia Safe Abortion Partnership came up with an online campaign on International Day of Action for Women’s health (May 28th 2020) called #ICANMANAGE. They addressed the growing need for self-administered abortions through the pills. There is a growing need especially because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
https://asap-asia.org/28th-september-international-safe-abortion-day/
2. There are two other online advocacy campaigns that ASAP organized. One was called #DearLeader where youths from various countries in Asia wrote questions and suggestions to their respective leaders that would ensure access to all sexual and reproductive health services and rights. The other was called #NotJustAUterus were ASAP highlighted some of the many common stereotypes ascribed to women and critique their ‘most important role’ according to society, which is reproduction. The emphasis of this campaign was to realize that women can be so much more than just mothers or wives or a medium to ensure continuity of her husband’s lineage.
https://asap-asia.org/28th-september-international-safe-abortion-day/
3. In September 2019, CREA came up with a week-long online campaign called #AbortTheStigma that culminated on 28th September, International Safe Abortions Day. The organization talked about the common myths and misconceptions around abortions that exist in the society and encouraged people to not stigmatise the very act of seeking abortions.
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17862863512533652/
4. India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates (ISAY Advocates) is a team of young people in India who try to advocate for safe abortions in India, especially with medical students. Their aim is to sensitise medical students towards AYSRH. In June 2020, they came up with ‘The Abortion Curriculum’ a rights-based, certificate-elective to establish an abortion-sensitive approach among medical students. It comprises of a multilevel intervention beginning with an initiation abortion sensitization workshop – followed by a continual form of learning. Please check their Instagram page:
5. FII and ASAP came together for a campaign in 2019 – #AbortionMeraHaq. It was useful for fellow Youth Champions who all have their own digital advocacy campaigns to advance abortion rights in their respective countries. Popular feminist portal Agents of Ishq also gave a talk on how they used humour to create feminist sex-positive content on the internet.