
Vanessa Sekpon
Benin-based researcher and epidemiologist specializing in safe abortion access and adolescent reproductive health in West Africa; author of SRHM-published research on abortion stigma in Benin.
1
APPEARANCES
1
PODCASTS
012
DEC 30
JAN 6
JAN 13
JAN 20
JAN 27
FEB 3
FEB 10
FEB 17
FEB 24
MAR 3
MAR 10
MAR 17
MAR 24
MAR 31
APR 7
APR 14
APR 21
APR 28
MAY 5
MAY 12
MAY 19
MAY 26
JUN 2
JUN 9
JUN 16
JUN 23
JUN 30
JUL 7
JUL 14
JUL 21
JUL 28
AUG 4
AUG 11
AUG 18
AUG 25
SEP 1
SEP 8
SEP 15
SEP 22
SEP 29
OCT 6
OCT 13
OCT 20
OCT 27
NOV 3
NOV 10
NOV 17
NOV 24
DEC 1
DEC 8
DEC 15
DEC 22
DEC 29
JAN 5
JAN 12
JAN 19
JAN 26
FEB 2
FEB 9
FEB 16
FEB 23
MAR 2
MAR 9
MAR 16
MAR 23
MAR 30
APR 6
APR 13
APR 20
APR 27
MAY 4
MAY 11
MAY 18
MAY 25
JUN 1
JUN 8
JUN 15
JUN 22
JUN 29
JUL 6
JUL 13
JUL 20
JUL 27
AUG 3
AUG 10
AUG 17
AUG 24
AUG 31
SEP 7
SEP 14
SEP 21
SEP 28
OCT 5
OCT 12
OCT 19
OCT 26
NOV 2
NOV 9
Sep 28, 2026
Making rights real: Abortion access after legal reform in Benin
17:45
17:58
18:07
18:13
18:24
18:36
18:46
35:03

Laura FergusonHOST
And if there are findings that really could highlight this gap between what is legally possible and what is actually accessible.

Vanessa SekponGUEST
As mentioned earlier by Jerry, the law has already contributed to the women and girls' access to safe abortion care.

Vanessa SekponGUEST
There is more access to such services compared to the study our team has done in 2021.

Vanessa SekponGUEST
In our last ethnographic study implemented in 2024-2025, over half of the adolescents and women interviewed assessed safe abortion care.

Vanessa SekponGUEST
We have documented key facilitators of access to safe abortion care, which were knowledge of the law, even if awareness of its content was limited.

Vanessa SekponGUEST
In fact, women aware of the legal reform are more likely to seek safe abortion care within healthcare facilities.

Vanessa SekponGUEST
Also, working referral systems to guide abortion care seekers to the healthcare providers willing to provide the care.
16 MINS LATER

Laura FergusonHOST
So I wonder if you could just say a little bit about how are they helping people access abortion information and services in Benin, particularly where they're bridging gaps left by the formal health system or trying to help women overcome some of these barriers that we're talking about and wonder sort of what role can civil society play in making the 2021 legal reform meaningful for women in practice? Maybe Vanessa, would you like to