In every part of the world, in every era of history, women from all walks of life have obtained abortions to end unintended pregnancies. Despite the history and universality of women's need for safe abortion care, access to abortion is neither socially nor legally sanctioned in many parts of the world. As a result, almost half of the women seeking abortions each year - 19 million - must resort to untrained providers working in unsanitary conditions. A quarter of these unsafe abortions occur in Africa.