In 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development was held in Cairo, and for the first time, the conference report linked unsafe abortions directly to maternal death.

VOA: standard.2010.06.24

We know that universal access to voluntary family planning services would prevent 150, 000 maternal deaths and 25 million abortions every year.

CNN: The elephant in the room at Rio summit

But a lack of political will also contributes to the high maternal death rates and number of abortions, he says.

BBC: Debate over legalising abortion intensifies in Argentina

Surveys from hospitals in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya suggest that anywhere from 20-50% of maternal deaths are due to complications resulting from unsafe backstreet abortions.

ECONOMIST: Reproductive health