Will you help activists protect access to abortion?
Imagine needing an abortion and being denied care. For many women – but especially Black, Indigenous, disabled, migrant women and trans people – this is a harsh reality.
Governments are banning abortion, cutting funding, and criminalising care. They’re pushing reproductive healthcare out of reach for many. And if the abortion rights we fought for over decades can be taken away – like when Roe v. Wade was overturned in the US in 2022 – it’s clear that no right is ever fully guaranteed. That’s why we all need to act now.
“The conservative government always frames [abortion] in terms of morality and punishment”
– Justyna Wydrzyńska – Abortion Dream Team, Poland
Abortion is banned outright
Across the Americas and the Caribbean, 97% of women live under restrictive abortion laws. In six countries in these regions, abortion is banned outright with no exceptions. For millions, this means they can’t get care even in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening pregnancy.
In Peru, a young woman faced life-threatening complications because safe abortion care was out of reach. Thanks to Mama Cash grantee-partner Serena Morena, she found the help she needed. But thousands of others are routinely denied care and left with two impossible choices: risk a dangerous, illegal abortion or be forced to have a child.
“ The experience was horrible. The place where they performed the [surgical abortion] was like a filthy den, and the pain was terrible. I was afraid. Because I didn’t have enough information or money, the abortion was done by someone who was practically a butcher.”
– Anonymous Serena Morena Zine Contributor
Feminist movements change laws, save lives, and demand justice – but they need resources to do it. Click below to fund feminist activists and expand abortion access.
This issue isn’t just limited to Peru. Our freedom to control what happens to our bodies is under threat around the world – from the US to Poland, from Namibia to the Americas and the Caribbean.
For 40 years, Mama Cash has been a critical funder of grassroots feminist movements, moving €17 million to support reproductive justice across 100 countries. But there’s still so much progress to be made – and together, we can make it happen.
Where governments fail, feminists take action
“We don’t want to become a large organisation, but rather remain a small, flexible, and radical group that can quickly respond to the needs of women.”
– Kinga Jelińska – Abortion Dream Team, Poland
In Poland, information about abortion law is deliberately complicated, leading to widespread misinformation. Helping someone access an abortion can even result in criminal charges. This was the case for Justyna Wydrzyńska (centre in image below), a founding member of grantee-partner Abortion Dream Team. Wydrzyńska was prosecuted simply for sharing her abortion pills with a woman trapped in an abusive relationship and in urgent need of care. This happened even though abortion pills are legal in Poland, and ending a pregnancy up to 22 weeks is allowed.
Wydrzyńska’s story gained international attention and reveals a harsh truth: a legal right means nothing without access. In Poland, misinformation, censorship, and government inaction make it almost impossible to get abortion care – even when it’s legal.
Feminist movements are making abortions accessible to more people and creating real change. On International Women’s Day 2025, the Abortion Dream Team achieved a historic milestone by opening an abortion clinic just across from the Parliament building in Warsaw, Poland. They did this despite facing legal challenges, public scrutiny, and government opposition. Thanks to the long-term support from Mama Cash and others, they turned their vision into reality – ensuring more people in Poland can get the care they need.
When movements have resources, they can push governments to act
In Mauritius, years of relentless campaigning funded by Mama Cash supporters led to a historic win. In 2012, Muvman Liberasyon Fam, a grantee-partner at the time, joined forces with feminist allies to fight for change. Their efforts pushed lawmakers to decriminalise abortion in cases of life-threatening pregnancy complications, non-viable pregnancies, and pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Feminist advocacy turned the tide against restrictive laws, proving once again that when movements are well-resourced, they have the power to push governments into action.
In Namibia, the Namibia Women’s Health Network fought to end the forced sterilisation of HIV-positive women. With support from Mama Cash funding, they put a stop to this widespread human rights violation. Through years of legal advocacy, supporting survivors, and grassroots organising, the network secured a landmark ruling in the Supreme Court in 2014, holding the government accountable for violating reproductive rights.
These victories show that feminist movements change lives, shift policies, and demand justice.
But there’s still work to do. Right now, less than 1% of official development assistance for gender equality reaches women’s rights organisations and feminist movements. Without funding, these groups risk losing hard-won progress, and even more people will be denied the care and support they need.
Grassroots feminist groups don’t just challenge restrictive laws – they change them. With the right resources, they make real change happen. Give now to advance abortion rights and push governments to act.
Here’s what your donation could help achieve
Your support fuels feminist movements working tirelessly for access to free, safe, and legal abortion. Every contribution – big or small – helps provide vital resources, strengthen networks, and drive lasting change. Here’s what your donation could help achieve:
Frequently Asked Donation Questions
Your donation supports grassroots feminist movements all over the world, working on everything from reproductive justice to gender, economic, disability, climate, and racial justice. Mama Cash gives unrestricted funding, which means that activists decide how best to use it – whether it’s for legal work, community organising, or urgent needs.
There are different ways to fund social change. One common approach is project funding, where funders give money for specific activities with strict conditions on how it can be spent. While this can support important work, it often makes it difficult for organisations to respond to urgent needs or invest in long-term solutions.
Mama Cash takes a different approach: we give unrestricted (or flexible) funding. This allows feminist movements to decide how to use the money. Whether it’s for legal fees, running abortion hotlines, or organising community actions, activists know best what their communities need.
Research shows that core, flexible funding is the most effective way to sustain movements. It helps organisations stay resilient, adaptive, and strategic. This kind of funding allows them to focus on making lasting change, rather than just completing short-term projects.
This depends on where you live. Mama Cash is based in the Netherlands, so donations may be tax deductible for some international donors. Check with a tax advisor or review our info on tax deductions here.
Yes! Monthly donors sustain the movements we support, giving long-term support that helps activists plan ahead and respond to urgent needs. To set up a recurring donation, click ‘donate’ and choose the monthly option instead of one-time.
If you can’t donate right now, you can still make an impact!
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Every action helps keep the movement going. But if you can donate today, you’ll make sure that activists have the resources they need – right now!