In this session of Abortion Academy we speak with activist and doctor Suzanne Veldhuis about her groundbreaking research and work with acompañantes and pro-choice physicians in Mexico. Velduis has been working closely with acompañantes – groups of activists who accompany pregnant people through their abortions outside of a clinical setting, creating a safe, holistic, and destigmatizing method of care. We talk with Veldhuis about how acompañantes networks work and why it is vital to center their work in the rapid expansion of self-managed abortion (SMA); how acompañantes, activists, and doctors can potentially work together to build a better system of care, and more. SMA is a revolution in abortion access and will be a major part of the future, no matter what politicians do – come learn more about how the acompañantes model can be adapted to other contexts, including your own.

BioSuzanne Veldhuis is feminist activist, physician, and researcher, originally from the Netherlands, who has lived in Chiapas, Mexico, since 2013. With over a decade of experience, Suzanne has worked extensively on projects related to sexual and reproductive health and access to safe abortion, both in Mexico and internationally. She currently serves as Advocacy and Research Coordinator and physician at Women on Web and is the co-founder of the Network of Pro-Choice Physicians Mexico. She specializes in self-managed abortion models and their articulation with the medical sector.

LinksAbortion Accompaniment Practices in Northern Mexico “Becoming the woman she wishes you to be”: A qualitative study exploring the experiences of medication abortion acompañantes in three regions in Mexico

Línea Aborto Chiapas documentary Hegemonic Medicine and Self-Managed Abortion – full article Hegemonic Medicine and Self-Managed Abortion – commentary Acompañantes’ perspectives on health system partnerships for medication abortion care in three Mexican states Workshop methodology (Spanish) Workshop methodology (English) PhD dissertation (Spanish only)