[News] Nicaraguan Abortion Ban Jeopardizes Womens Health, Lives
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Mon Oct 8 11:08:25 EDT 2007
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Nicaraguan Abortion Ban Jeopardizes Women's Health, Lives
Feminist Daily News Wire
October 3, 2007
A study released yesterday by Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that
Nicaraguan women's health and lives have been put at risk by the
country's blanket ban on abortions, imposed one year ago. The ban
includes "therapeutic abortions" (abortions meant to save a woman's
life or health) and has no exceptions for rape or incest.
The HRW report, <http://hrw.org/reports/2007/nicaragua1007>"Over
Their Dead Bodies," found that the ban has not only discouraged women
from seeking abortions but has also had a ripple effect on basic
obstetric and gynecological care. According to the report, many women
are no longer seeking medical help for pregnancy-related
complications for fear that they will be accused of inducing an abortion.
"Doctors in Nicaragua are now afraid to provide even legal health
services to pregnant women," said Angela Heimburger, Americas
researcher at HRW's Women's Rights Division.
The study also notes that the Nicaraguan government hasn't enforced
guidelines meant to curb these unintended effects of the ban and has
no plans to study its effect on women's health.
On Sunday, protesters with the Nicaraguan Feminist Movement
interrupted mass at a church in Managua to
<http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/02/america/LA-GEN-Nicaragua-Abortions.php>protest
the ban, the Associated Press reports. Women's and human rights
groups filed petitions in January asking the Nicaraguan Supreme Court
to declare the ban unconstitutional, but the Court has yet to rule.
The only other countries with blanket bans on abortion are Chile and
El Salvador, according to HRW.
Media Resources:The Associated Press 10/2/07; Human Rights Watch
Press Release 10/2/07; "Over Their Dead Bodies" 10/07
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