The Marie Stopes Global Safe Abortion Conference 2007, in association with Ipas and Abortion Rights, built consensus and momentum around international efforts to reduce the unacceptable toll on women’s health and lives caused by unsafe abortion, through increasing access to safe services, recognising women’s right to self determination and encouraging legal reform. The conference was a seminal event and a call to action to move the domestic and global abortion agendas forward. The conference also marked the 40th anniversary (27 October 2007) of the 1967 Abortion Act, reviewed current barriers to access and issues of concern in UK provision and practice, and seek ways to remove any barriers. The conference attracted delegates from over 50 countries around the world, with representatives from government, health care professions and NGOs. Speakers included Lord David Steel, Architect of 1967 Abortion Act; Andrea Duncan, Sexual Health and HIV Programme Manager, Department of Health; Professor Fred Sai, Advisor to the President of Ghana and former Senior Health Advisor to the World Bank; Bert Koenders, Minister for Development Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Monica Roa, Programmes Director, Women’s Link Worldwide, Columbia.