USA – Why rape exceptions in abortion bans are more complicated in reality

Only four states with abortion bans allow the procedure due to rape.

By Mary Kekatos, Video by Jessie DiMartino
August 19, 2022

Since the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade in June, several states have enacted strict abortion bans.

At least 15 states have ceased nearly all abortion services and an additional four states have bans that have been blocked in court and are undergoing legal challenges.

Continued: https://abcnews.go.com/US/rape-exceptions-abortions-bans-complicated-reality/story?id=88237926


Ecuador at critical crossroads in push for abortion rights

In the largely conservative nation, women can be sentenced to up to two years in prison for having an abortion.

By Natalie Alcoba
20 Jul 2021

Ana Cristina Vera could tell countless stories of women she has helped extricate from the jaws of Ecuador’s severe anti-abortion laws, but the lawyer and feminist organiser always starts with one: Carla’s.

In 2014, on her way to work in the city of Esmeraldes, Carla – a name Vera, her lawyer, uses to protect her identity – fell down a set of stairs. She picked herself up, only to later discover that she was bleeding. She assumed it was her period, which was two weeks late, and got medication from a friend for the pain, Vera told Al Jazeera.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/20/ecuador-at-critical-crossroads-in-push-for-abortion-rights


Mexico moves toward legal abortion, but women still face jail

Mexico moves toward legal abortion, but women still face jail

30 Nov 2019

GUANAJUATO, Mexico: Martha Mendez and Susana Duenas were both teenagers when they committed their "crime": suffering a miscarriage.

Accused of having an abortion - which is illegal in all but two states in Mexico - Mendez was forced to ask her fetus for forgiveness. Duenas was jailed for seven years.

Continued; https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/mexico-moves-toward-legal-abortion--but-women-still-face-jail-12140018


Mumbai: 14-year-old rape survivor seeks HC’s permission for abortion

Mumbai: 14-year-old rape survivor seeks HC's permission for abortion
Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, abortion beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy can be done only after seeking nod from the high court.
Bombay High Court, rape survivor abortion

Dec 26, 2018

Mumbai: A 14-year-old rape victim has approached the Bombay High Court seeking permission to terminate her 22-week pregnancy. A vacation bench of Justice Bharati Dangre on Monday directed the victim to be medically examined by a team of expert doctors at the state-run J J Hospital in Mumbai.

"The team should examine her (victim) and submit a detailed report on whether it is feasible and advisable to terminate the pregnancy of the victim," the court said.

Continued: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/mumbai-14-year-old-rape-survivor-seeks-hcs-permission-for-abortion/337128


‘Dear reader, put yourself in the position of a child raped and denied an abortion’

‘Dear reader, put yourself in the position of a child raped and denied an abortion’

Esperanza Meraki

28 September 2018

I am a 14-year-old aspiring human rights activist and this is why I believe in women’s and girls' right to safe abortion in cases of rape.

Abortion is a very complicated topic, as there is no black or white; there is an infinite amount of shades of grey in between. Many people across the world are anti-abortion and pro-life. Some believe that abortion is murder and women should not be given that choice, but I believe this is problematic and unfair because there are many cases when a woman should have the right to terminate a fetus.

Continued: https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/esperanza-meraki/dear-reader-i-urge-you-to-put-yourself-in-position-of-child-who-has-been-raped


Geraldine Kennedy: Why I am a reluctant Yes to repeal Eighth Amendment

Geraldine Kennedy: Why I am a reluctant Yes to repeal Eighth Amendment
It’s a long way from what I voted against in 1983 to the right to abortion at 12 weeks ‘without any indication’

April 27, 2018
Geraldine Kennedy

There have been almost 30 referendums since the Constitution was adopted in 1937. I have covered the vast majority of them in my journalistic career. There have been more abortion questions put to the people in referendums than any other single issue in the history of the State. So, I have become something of a specialist on abortion. The referendum on May 25th is the sixth time around for me.

The first time was on September 7th, 1983, when the Eighth Amendment was put into the Constitution. It is hard to believe that it was held almost 35 years ago. This means every voter under the age of 53 years or so, depending on their political awareness, has no personal memory of that campaign.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/geraldine-kennedy-why-i-am-a-reluctant-yes-to-repeal-eighth-amendment-1.3476601


Ireland – Why I was persuaded abortion up to 12 weeks should be allowed

Why I was persuaded abortion up to 12 weeks should be allowed
Billy Kelleher: Evidence to Oireachtas committee highlighted difficulty of legislating for abortion in rape or incest cases

March 21, 2018
Billy Kelleher

Abortion is a very uncomfortable subject for anyone to discuss in great detail and there is no unanimous position on it.

Some say abortion is a human right; others believe it is an abomination and should never be allowed in any circumstances, even when the health of the mother is in danger, or when a fatal foetal abnormality is diagnosed or after a woman is raped or a victim of incest.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/why-i-was-persuaded-abortion-up-to-12-weeks-should-be-allowed-1.3433974


Zimbabwe: Illegal abortion: A major public health concern

Illegal abortion: A major public health concern
December 27, 2017

Ruth Butaumocho Gender Editor

When Ms Mildred Mapingure of Chegutu was raped by Courage Chamboko during an armed robbery in 2006, she never imagined that events of that fateful night would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Soon after the traumatising incident Ms Mapingure immediately reported the matter to Chegutu Police so that she could be assisted to get medical assistance and stop her from conceiving.

Continued at source: http://www.herald.co.zw/illegal-abortion-a-major-public-health-concern/


Nicaragua’s Abortion Ban Makes Victims the Criminals

Nicaragua’s Abortion Ban Makes Victims the Criminals

September 28, 2017
Janet Walsh, Deputy Director, Women’s Rights Division

For more than six years, Ana’s partner raped her repeatedly in their home several hours from Nicaragua’s capital. He threatened, humiliated, and tormented Ana and their two young children. When she begged him to leave, he refused.

Twice, the rapes resulted in unwanted pregnancies. The first time, Ana told her partner she wanted to get a clandestine abortion. “He said he would kill me,” Ana told me. Afraid for her life, she continued the pregnancy and gave birth to her second child.

Continued at source: https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/28/nicaraguas-abortion-ban-makes-victims-criminals


India: Denying child rape victims permission for abortion condemned

Denying child rape victims permission for abortion condemned
C. Maya
Thiruvananthapuram, August 05, 2017

A collective feels it is tantamount to obfuscation of abortion laws, causing undesirable and damaging delays

A collective of public health experts, lawyers, and human rights activists have expressed serious concern over courts repeatedly refusing permission to child rape survivors to undergo abortion and thus forcing the children to carry their unwanted pregnancy to term.

The intervention of courts and the ad hoc medical opinion they receive in such matters tantamount to obfuscating of existing abortion laws, causing undesirable and damaging delays in these cases.

Continued at source: The Hindu: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/denying-child-rape-victims-permission-for-abortion-condemned/article19436166.ece