The Third Regional Conference “Self-Care in Reproductive Health: Family Planning and Safe Abortion as Recommended by WHO in Eastern Europe and Central Asia” was mentioned in the newsletter of the International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion – a global platform dedicated to women’s right to safe and evidence-based abortion. This mention shows that regional efforts are capturing international attention, connecting local experience with a global movement for reproductive health rights.

On 15–16 May 2025, the Reproductive Health Training Center of Moldova organized the Third Regional Conference “Self-care in reproductive health: family planning and safe abortion according to WHO recommendations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia”. Around 60 participants – including health professionals, policymakers, NGO representatives and international experts – came together, both in person in Chisinau and online via Zoom, to share experiences and explore practical ways to integrate WHO guidelines into national care protocols.

The conference addressed three main objectives:

• Reflect on lessons learned in implementing WHO recommendations on self-care, especially in the area of family planning and safe abortion.
• Identifying gaps and barriers, as well as discussing ways to‑medicalize services to increase quality and accessibility.
• Planning concrete steps to expand self-care services throughout the region.

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The same newsletter mentions Moldova once again, recalling that in May 2025, the Ministry of Health asked the Committee of Obstetrics and Gynecology to revise the National Standards on Safe Abortion, ignoring its own procedures and not involving national experts or WHO  representatives – as the protocol recommended – and since then nothing has changed

At the same time, it is noted that parliamentary elections are coming in September 2025, and many NGOs and experts are waiting  for the new members of Parliament and the future Minister of Health.

In this context, a meeting was held with Amnesty International to discuss possible future steps, such as recommendations and forms of protest

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This mention is a warning about telemedicine for medical abortion in Moldova – highlighting that although services have been banned, there is an international call and local mobilization for a return to an evidence-based practice. The newsletter clearly states that the ban on telemedicine, issued in January 2025 by Order no. 45/2025, comes despite the excellent safety record of the services offered so far.