Different paths, same destination: Accessing safe and legal abortion across borders

Isabella and Ana* live thousands of miles apart. They don’t speak the same language, they had different upbringings and have taken different paths in their adulthood. But a mutual experience and journey led them to the same place for the same reason: to exercise their autonomy and receive safe abortion care. 

When Isabella faced an unintended pregnancy in her home country of El Salvador, she was immediately filled with fear and confusion. El Salvador has the strictest laws in the region – abortion care is completely banned, even in cases of rape or risk to the pregnant person’s life. Women who cannot carry a pregnancy to term, particularly those who are young, poor, and live in rural areas, often face jail or death. Since 1998, over 140 women accused of terminating their pregnancies have been imprisoned, with sentences of up to 35 years. Unsafe abortion is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the country. Public debate on reproductive autonomy is stifled under the current anti-rights government. Isabella felt like she had nowhere to turn, and she didn’t talk to anyone about her situation. 

Meanwhile, Ana was navigating another harsh reality in Brazil. She was experiencing a wanted pregnancy when a prenatal test revealed significant fetal malformations. Although Brazilian law allows abortion care in cases of fetal anencephaly, a severe condition incompatible with life outside the womb, Ana’s case involved a different type of malformation, leaving her without clear legal options. She could pursue a court ruling to authorize a legal abortion, but without any guarantee or clear timeframe. Feeling desperate but determined, Ana knew she had to seek an alternative outside Brazil. 

As the Green Wave for reproductive rights has made its way through Latin America and the Caribbean, millions of people have gained access to safe, legal abortion care – but simultaneously, people living in countries where abortion has not been legalized are looking to neighboring countries to provide necessary, lifesaving care.  

Aware that there were no legal options or socially acceptable spaces to talk about abortion in El Salvador, Isabella decided to look for help on her own, and she found Oriéntame, a Fòs Feminista partner based in Colombia. Ana also contacted Oriéntame, where she received support and virtual medical counseling in Portuguese and began making plans to travel to Colombia to receive specialized abortion care.  

Founded in 1977, Oriéntame provides sexual and reproductive health care in Colombia, with a particular focus on comprehensive abortion services. Since abortion was decriminalized up to 24 weeks in the country in 2022, the organization has cared for about 10,000 people each year, including an increasing number of foreigners. In 2025, more than 300 women from 10 countries obtained legal abortion care at Oriéntame. 

Once they arrived in Colombia, both women felt relief knowing that they were making a fully informed, autonomous decision without the stigma and legal barriers they faced in their home countries. Isabella and Ana were both able to receive safe, affordable abortion care through the cross-border preparation and logistical support from Oriéntame. 

When heading back to Brazil after her procedure, Ana was overwhelmed with gratitude for the ability to make a difficult yet compassionate decision. By seeking care in another country, Ana saw firsthand the vast gap between Brazil’s legal framework and the real-life complexities of reproductive health – and just how out of touch the country’s policies are. 

For Isabella, this experience reaffirmed her long-held belief that abortion must be a right for all. Going through this process as a Salvadoran has been a reminder of how her country’s anti-rights laws and policies completely ignore the realities of unintended or high-risk pregnancies. 

Ana and Isabella arrived in Colombia on different paths but with a common goal: to access the care they deserved. With the support of Oriéntame, both women were able to make the choice that was right for them, on their own terms. Their stories are emblematic of the impact that cross-border care networks can have on people’s lives and serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of safe, sensitive and affordable care – no matter the circumstances.

*Their real names were omitted to protect their privacy.