19. Only a very low percentage of abortions practiced in Africa are safely conducted. As a result of this state of facts, unsafe abortions remain a factor in preventable maternal mortality. Furthermore, they are for women who undergo them a persistent disability factor which is often not listed as such. It has been demonstrated that in a context where national laws allow therapeutic abortion when it proves necessary, and where health services are available, accessible, acceptable and of good quality, the prevalence as well as the complications arising from unsafe abortions are generally lower than in countries where the legal conditions for abortion are restricted. 20. The Protocol puts on State parties the obligation to protect women’s reproductive rights, particularly by authorizing safe abortion in the cases listed in Article 14. 2 c.). In addition, the Maputo Plan of Action urges Governments to adopt legal policies and frameworks so as to reduce cases of unsafe abortion, as well as to develop and implement national action plans in order to mitigate the prevalence of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. WHO reiterates that, if States do not remove the legal and administrative barriers that impede women's access to safe abortion services, they could not meet their international obligations to respect, protect, promote and implement the right to non-discrimination. 21. Thus, administrative discriminatory laws, policies, procedures, practices must be removed so that women can effectively claim their reproductive freedom and the rights thereof, and enjoy the same. 22. State parties must imperatively take all necessary measures to remove socio-cultural structures and norms that promote and perpetuate gender-based inequality. It is the same for the cross-cutting forms of discrimination contained in laws, policies, plans, administrative procedures and the provision of resources, information and services concerning contraception/family planning and safe abortion, in the limited cases listed. Normative content Article 14.1.a), b) and c): the right to exercise control over one’s fertility, decide one’s maternity, the number of children and the spacing of births, and choice of contraceptive methods. 23. The rights to exercise control over one’s fertility, to decide one’s maternity, the number of children and the spacing of births, and to choose a contraception method are inextricably linked, interdependent and indivisible. 24. The right to dignity enshrines the freedom to make personal decisions without interference from the State or non-State actors. The woman's right to make personal decisions involves taking into account or not the beliefs, traditions, values and cultural or religious practices, and the right to question or to ignore them. 8