What does it take to make serious change when it comes to abortion access? For Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, it took resilience, perseverance, and a willingness to speak openly and repeatedly about a topic that was too taboo to even mention in high-level forums when she began her work in the 1990s. 

That perseverance paid off, and Dr. Brookman-Amissah’s advocacy has contributed to a 40% decline in unsafe abortion-related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2000. This is serious change that has made a meaningful impact on the lives of countless Africans!  

In honor of her 30 years of trailblazing work, today she received the prestigious Right Livelihood Award—widely known as “the alternative Nobel Prize.” 

Ipas is immensely proud to have counted Dr. Brookman-Amissah as a colleague for many years. She joined Ipas in 2001 as Vice President for Africa, establishing and leading the Ipas Africa Alliance for Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights, which worked across the continent on high-level advocacy for abortion law reform.  

This is the first time someone has received the Right Livelihood Award for work on abortion and reproductive rights. Not surprisingly, it’s creating excitement and hope among advocates in Africa and beyond. 
 

Joyful reactions from around the globe 

 [She] has been an incredible role model and ‘super champion’ for abortion rights. Her resilience gives hope to everyone fighting for women’s reproductive and abortion rights.”  

– Monica Oguttu, a Kenyan nurse, midwife, reproductive rights advocate, and member of the Ipas Board of Directors 

 The fact that this award is being given for work on abortion is amazing. It will help normalize talking about abortion and reproductive rights and women’s rights, and hopefully energize the communities working on these rights.”  

– Elly Leemhuis-de Regt, former senior advisor on sexual and reproductive health and rights at Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, former colleague of Dr. Brookman-Amissah 

 Dr. Brookman-Amissah’s contributions to Ipas have had a lasting impact on the organization and we continue to build on what she started. She is an inspiration to many in Africa and around the world.”  

– Anu Kumar, Ipas President and CEO