Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare the following interests: DS is a strong advocate for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights and as president of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics spearheaded the initiative for the prevention of unsafe abortion and its complications with action plans in 46 countries between 2006-2017. WVN holds a chair in family planning applied public health research funded by the Canadian government organisations the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; is funded as a scholar of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research; is a member of the board of directors of the Society of Family Planning; and a member of the abortion clinical practice guidelines committee for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.