“Pregnancy and abortion are issues that are central to a woman’s life project.” Roseane Santos
Roseane Santos identifies as many things: a mother, a friend, a worker, a student, a caretaker – and now, an activist. Roseane’s story mirrors that of countless others across the globe who are unable to access safe and legal abortions, but hers has an important twist – by connecting with reproductive care organizations and providers, she was able to regain control of her situation and create a life where she is now able to support other Brazilian people who wish to do the same.
Roseane was born in Brazil, in the northern state of Amazonas. She eventually moved south to São Paulo, seeking better job opportunities. In the years following her move, Roseane got married and had a son, now 7 years old. A few years after her son’s birth, Roseane got divorced and shortly thereafter became unemployed. Unfortunately, these two life-altering events also happened to coincide with Roseane finding out she was pregnant again. Assessing the situation, Roseane decided that the best choice for her would be to seek abortion care.
Abortion is criminalized in Brazil except in cases of rape, anencephaly, or risk to the mother’s life. Given that Roseane’s circumstances did not qualify for any of the three exceptions, she sought alternatives – but local options were too uncertain and potentially risky. After a few weeks, Roseane felt like she’d exhausted all the options available to her in Brazil – she’d taken an herbal tea recommended by a friend, she was scammed by online medication sellers, and when none of them worked, she’d only feel worse pain and more uncertainty. When Roseane returned to the doctor to confirm she was still pregnant, the medical personnel mistreated her for having sought illegal abortion care.
Frustrated and desperate, Roseane took to social media to try and find any last-ditch opportunities for care. Finally, in a relieving breakthrough in her journey to access care, Roseane found Projeto Vivas – a Fòs Feminista partner that supports women who need to access legal abortion under the current exceptions in Brazil and abroad, providing information, referrals, and financial and logistical support for travel. Projeto Vivas then connected her to FUSA, a Fòs Feminista partner in Argentina, where she received a safe and legal abortion.
Given her past experiences with scammers online peddling ineffective medications, Roseane was skeptical when she first contacted Projeto Vivas. Fortunately, a supportive team member on the other side of the internet helped her feel reassured and confident – that person was Rebeca Mendes, another Brazilian woman who had experienced a nearly identical situation a few years prior when she had to travel to Colombia to get a safe and legal abortion after being denied access to care by a Brazilian court.
Roseane was astonished and heartened by how well she was received at FUSA in Buenos Aires, especially compared to the mistreatment she’d experienced at a hospital in Brazil. The attentive staff listened carefully to Roseane’s questions and concerns, and everything happened exactly as Rebeca had told her it would in conversations leading up to the procedure. She left with an IUD, feeling deep relief and a sense of security. In her own words, Roseane described her journey to receive safe abortion care as a life-changing experience in which she learned about empathy, the power of community, and the importance of guaranteeing that women can safely decide what is best for them according to their own principles.
Inspired by her experience within the reproductive care network, Roseane became a volunteer at Projeto Vivas and is now an employee at the organization. She spends her time taking care of her son, studying Spanish on the side, and attending college at night to get a law degree.
“When people talk about abortion, they often think about someone being promiscuous or getting rid of a burden. But it is just a matter of responsibility,” Roseane said. “Raising a child is difficult, especially when you can’t rely on good public health or when you can’t access childcare – people need to understand that.”
As a Black woman, Roseane is increasingly aware that her peers are more vulnerable to unsafe abortions and have more difficulty accessing sexual and reproductive health services in Brazil. That’s why Roseane is convinced that intersectionality is essential in the work that she does with Projeto Vivas, and in the work of countless other reproductive justice organizations throughout the care network in Latin America. Without considering racial justice in this and other fights, Black people will remain vulnerable, including her son.
The current debate about decriminalizing abortion up to 12 weeks moving within the Supreme Court of Brazil brings Roseane, and the whole feminist movement, immense hope for the future. Roseane considers herself lucky to have found support from Projeto Vivas – but there are thousands of women and girls who either don’t have internet access or can’t travel and are unable to regain control of their decision making. It is the belief and mission of Projeto Vivas and every other Fòs Feminista partner in Brazil that all women, girls and gender-diverse people have the right to access safe and legal abortions – and Roseane’s story illustrates the importance of freedom to make decisions about one’s own body, because unwanted and forced pregnancies should stop no one’s plans.
