South Africa: Less than 7% of health facilities nationwide offer abortions – Amnesty International

Less than 7% of health facilities nationwide offer abortions - Amnesty International
14 Feb 2017
Ina Skosana

In some provinces, safe, free abortions may only be provided at about 260 public facilities.

Less than 7% of the country's 3 880 health facilities provide abortions, according to recent research by the global human rights organisation, Amnesty International.

The health department has a human rights obligation to guarantee women access to abortion services, but isn’t doing enough to implement the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, found a briefing report released in February.

Continued at source: Bhekisisa: http://bhekisisa.org/article/2017-02-14-00-only-260-health-facilities-nationwide-offer-abortions-amnesty-international


Never mind America, access to abortion is a ‘nightmare’ for many Australians

Never mind America, access to abortion is a 'nightmare' for many Australians
by Van Badham
Monday 30 January 2017

Despite widespread popular support, legislation around abortion in Australia remains subject to political deal-making, leaving access for regional women shamefully limited.

It was unsurprising to American women that their new president moved so swiftly to limit women’s access to reproductive autonomy. Less than a week into his regime, President Trump has reinstated a Ronald Reagan policy known as the “global gag rule”.

Abortion wars are, of course, a visible hallmark of American politics, where denying a woman’s right to choose has long been used as a wedge by Republicans to chip white voters away from supporting Democrat candidates. But while a thumping majority of Australians support women’s abortion rights – around 80%, according to reliable polls – the gap between what we say we believe in here and what we legislate is larger than many would imagine.

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Source, The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/30/never-mind-america-access-to-abortion-is-a-nightmare-for-many-australians


Australia: Fears for abortion services seven years after Victorian law reform

December 6 2016, The Age
by Julia Medew

Women seeking abortions at Melbourne's leading women's hospital are being turned away amid concerns there is a shortage of doctors willing to carry out the procedure.

Seven years after Victoria decriminalised abortion, there are fears publicly funded services have deteriorated across the state, causing women to travel long distances for private care that can cost hundreds of dollars.

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Source: The Age