Competing framings of abortion access reform campaigns in Madagascar: barriers to effective coalition building

In sub-Saharan Africa, civil society organisations have a key role in putting abortion law and policy reform on the political agenda, and mobilising opinion in favour of such reform. However, the US global gag rule and the “anti-gender” movements, currently growing in strength across the world, have had a negative impact on opportunities for advocacy and coalition building across the region, restricting the space for debate, mobilisation and funding for civil society. In Madagascar, a country with one of the most restrictive abortion laws in sub-Saharan Africa, civil society mobilisations in favour of abortion law reform have been hampered by divisions within the pro-choice movement, with disagreements both on issue framing and on mobilisation tactics. Based on key informant interviews (n20) with members of civil society, journalists and politicians in Madagascar, we analyse the divisions that have emerged in pro-choice civil society and the ways that these might impact on their shared larger objective of law reform. We argue that there is a role for regional learning and exchange to help to overcome these national divisions and create stronger and more effective coalitions to advance reproductive rights.