South Africa – The Gospel of Shame: How Christian groups thwart the right to abortion

The Gospel of Shame: How Christian groups thwart the right to abortion

21 Sep 2018
Pontsho Pilane

Are faith-based NGOs breaking the law when they refuse to give women information on where to terminate their pregnancies?

Lerato Molefe stares blankly at the sign erected in the yard in front of her. Her eyes are fixed on the blue silhouette drawing of two women with bulging bellies.

“FREE pregnancy test” ... “Information on OPTIONS”, the sign reads.

Continued: https://bhekisisa.org/article/2018-09-21-00-the-gospel-of-shame-how-christian-groups-thwart-the-right-to-abortion-south-africa


South Africa: Parliament rejects ACDP’s abortion bill

Parliament rejects ACDP’s abortion bill
Health committee declares private members bill ‘undesirable’, but MP Cheryllyn Dudley says the debate has now been started

06 September 2018
Tamar Kahn

Parliament has rejected the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Cheryllyn Dudley’s private members bill on abortion, which critics have seen as a thinly veiled attempt to roll back women’s hard-won rights to safely terminate unwanted pregnancies.

Until the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act came into effect in 1997, abortions were only available in SA under extremely limited conditions. They required the approval of two doctors who were not involved in the matter, and in some cases a magistrate or psychiatrist as well.

Continued: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-09-06-parliament-rejects-acdps-abortion-bill/


South Africa – How the ACDP peddled unproven fact in its bid to tighten SA’s abortion laws

How the ACDP peddled unproven fact in its bid to tighten SA's abortion laws

05 Jun 2018
Africa Check, Gopolang Makou

The party cannot substantiate claims it made before Parliament in March, finds Africa Check.

In 2017, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) proposed a Bill that proposed restricting access to safe abortions in the country by, for instance, outlawing abortions after 13 weeks based on socioeconomic grounds and procedures at 20 weeks in cases where, for instance, fetuses had severe deformities.

The legislation also would have added requirements, such as mandatory counselling and sonagram viewing, that ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley told Bhekisisa would promote informed consent. But some doctors alleged the new counselling criteria was nothing more than an attempt to manipulate women.

Continued: http://bhekisisa.org/article/2018-06-05-00-how-the-acdp-peddled-unproven-facts-in-its-bid-to-tighten-sas-abortion-laws


South Africa: Private-member bill set to revive abortion debate

Private-member bill set to revive abortion debate
Pregnancy termination amendment is intended to tighten conditions for allowing women to have abortions

08 December 2017
Tamar Kahn

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Bill has been tabled in Parliament, paving the way for an emotional debate on access to abortion when MPs return to their duties next year.

The draft legislation is a private-member’s bill introduced by African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) MP Cheryllyn Dudley, who previously tried to restrict women’s access to abortion by proposing an amendment to the Constitution to include the right to life of the unborn child.

Continued at source: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/health/2017-12-08-private-member-bill-set-to-revive-abortion-debate/


South Africa: No Fetus Scan, No Abortion. Really?

South Africa: No Fetus Scan, No Abortion. Really?

Aug 8, 2017

Draft bill would, for instance, undo clauses in SA law that provide for abortions in some cases of extreme birth defects.

A proposed amendment to the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act would require that anyone seeking an abortion first undergo an ultrasound scan. In its draft bill, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) argues making this type of scan mandatory for abortion seekers will assist people to make "an informed choice".

Continued at source: All Africa: http://allafrica.com/stories/201708080318.html


South Africa: Parliamentarian tries to curb abortion

GroundUp: Parliamentarian tries to curb abortion

Terminating a pregnancy after 12 weeks will be much harder if a private member's bill passes.

Aug 1, 2017
By Safura Abdool Karim for GROUNDUP.

A Member of Parliament is trying to limit the right to abortion. Cheryllyn Dudley (ACDP) introduced a private member’s bill that proposes a severe departure from existing law.

Under current legislation, any woman may have an abortion up to 12 weeks into the pregnancy. From week 13 to 20, a woman may have an abortion if the pregnancy poses a risk to her or it would “significantly affect” her “social or economic circumstances”. This last reason makes South African abortion law different to many other countries. It makes abortions accessible to almost all women up to their 20th week.

Continued at source: Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-08-01-groundup-parliamentarian-tries-to-curb-abortion/