NPO launches campaign to combat illegal abortions

Seen by the numerous adverts placed on bins, poles and walls, it seems to suggest that the number of unsafe abortion providers is ever increasing, says Mary Stopes SA

March 8, 2021
Boksburg Advertiser

Marie Stopes South Africa (MSSA) has launched their #TearThemDown campaign, a fight against all illegal abortion service providers in the country.

MSSA has
reiterated its mission to provide safe pregnancy options for women in South
Africa.

According to
Whitney Chinogwenya, marketing and brand manager at MSSA, the unsafe practice
of illegal abortion continues to be a scourge that adds to the public health
crisis.

Continued: https://boksburgadvertiser.co.za/406533/npo-launches-campaign-to-combat-illegal-abortions/

Africa – Abortion is healthcare – and this makes it a human right

Reproductive justice is about much more than the freedom to choose to terminate a pregnancy or not – it challenges systems of oppression and discrimination and calls for a focused action plan for law reform.

By Tlaleng Mofokeng
14 August 2020

Dignity, bodily integrity, equality, safety and security, and health – including reproductive health – are human rights.

States must work to ensure that all people, regardless of gender, age, immigration or documentation status, geography or class, are able to access life-affirming and comprehensive healthcare. No circumstances or interventions should lead to discrimination, obstruction of access to abortion, or complications or death due to unsafe procedures.

Continued: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-14-abortion-is-healthcare-and-this-makes-it-a-human-right/

South Africa – No Strings Attached: The Only Kind Of Health Care Aid We Want From The U.S.

By Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng
July 14, 2020

Rose* traveled to three different health facilities in Gauteng province, in need of medical attention – she had already missed two periods, was uncertain if she was pregnant, and needed help right away. However, Rose left each clinic without a proper clinical examination, pregnancy confirmation, referral note, or even a proper medical history conversation. During one of these visits, she was sent away by a clerk, and during another, she was told the only nurse who performs abortions is on leave. But without access to proper care, Rose resorted to spending the little money she had on buying black market pills that promised a quick abortion, putting her at risk for hemorrhage, sepsis, and even death.

Continued: https://www.essence.com/op-ed/south-africa-health-care-during-trump-presidency/

14.07.2020

Featured

Opinion

Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act

CTOPA

Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng

Global Gag Rule

Global Health Empowerment and Rights (HER) Act

sexual and reproductive rights

South Africa to strive to further reduce child and maternal mortality: Mthembu

SA to strive to further reduce child and maternal mortality: Mthembu
“We are confident that these interventions will ensure that we continue to place people at the centre of our developmental agenda,” Mthembu said.

Devdiscourse News Desk
Updated: 14-11-2019

Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu says South Africa will continue working to improve access to reproductive health care services.

Speaking at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which is currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya, Mthembu said the newly completed five-year plan for the country's 6th democratic administration affirmed that South Africa will in the next five years continue to improve access to reproductive health services, including targeting adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to address pregnancies and risky behavior.

Continued: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/headlines/744849-sa-to-strive-to-further-reduce-child-and-maternal-mortality-mthembu

South Africa – Mthatha teen in court for allegedly forcing abortion after a break-up

Mthatha teen in court for allegedly forcing abortion after a break-up
The court will have to determine whether the teen was within her rights to abort the baby.

by Andile Sicetsha
2019-10-15

An 18-year-old is expected to appear before the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court, in East London, for the murder of her unborn child.
What prompted the Mthatha teen to abort the baby?

According to police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni, the teenager from Mthatha was placed under arrest, on Monday, after students from a college in the Eastern Cape town found a plastic bag containing a lifeless fetus in a campus residence bathroom.

Continued: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/mthatha-teen-court-forcing-abortion-why/

15.10.2019

News

arresting women for abortion

Captain Khaya Tonjeni

Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act

self-induced abortion

self-managed abortion

Let’s call ‘conscientious objection’ by its name: Obstruction of access to care and abortion in South Africa

Let’s call ‘conscientious objection’ by its name: Obstruction of access to care and abortion in South Africa

Satang Nabaneh, Marion Stevens and Lucia Berro Pizzarossa
24th October 2018

South Africa has one of the most liberal laws on abortion and constitutionally recognizes reproductive rights as human rights. However, data shows important difficulties translating the legal norms into effective access to services. One of the key challenges is physicians’ refusal to perform abortions invoking an “ad hoc, unregulated and at times incorrect” conscientious objection. The Department of Health is now spearheading a reform of the abortion guidelines aiming to bring them in line with human rights standards and reframing the refusal as “obstruction of access to care”.

Continued: http://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/lets-call-conscientious-objection-by-its-name-obstruction-of-access-to-care-and-abortion-in-south-africa/

South Africa – #MyBodyMyChoice: The Right To Safe Abortion Is Protected By Law

#MyBodyMyChoice: The Right To Safe Abortion Is Protected By Law

Shaazia Ebrahim
On Oct 1, 2018

Cries of “my body, my choice”, “my vagina my choice” and “phansi unsafe abortions” rang in the air in the name of the campaign #MyBodyMyChoice. A group of people marched from Theatre Park in Braamfontein to Newtown Park in the name of access to quality reproductive healthcare services on Friday. There, an event featuring speeches from experts in the field, panel discussions, personal stories of women, and a musical performance was staged. Friday September 28 also marked International Safe Abortion Day.

The aim of the digital campaign #MyBodyMyChoice is to break the silence around abortion by connecting key audiences and create conversations around sexual and reproductive health and rights and abortion. It also aimed to emphasise that abortion is legal in South Africa and inform women about their rights and how to realise them.

Continued: http://www.thedailyvox.co.za/mybodymychoice-the-right-to-safe-abortion-is-protected-by-law-shaazia-ebrahim/

South Africa: #sliceoflife – ‘I Opened Her Up and Found Her Womb Was Rotten From the Infection’

South Africa: #sliceoflife - 'I Opened Her Up and Found Her Womb Was Rotten From the Infection'

28 September 2018
By Laura Lopez Gonzalez

Obstetrician Eddie Mhlanga often had to attend to women who had unsafe abortions during apartheid, when abortion was illegal in South Africa.

I had a colleague who went and obtained an illegal abortion. I was the one who admitted her [after the procedure went wrong]. I promised her at 12 midday on a Thursday that I would see her at 2 o'clock in theatre. That was the last time I spoke to her because, at half-past one, she collapsed. She had been bleeding heavily and been in a lot of pain. When they called me to come to the theatre, she was already under anaesthetic.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/201809280059.html

28.09.2018

Featured

News

Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act

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

21.09.2018

Commentary

Featured

News

Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada

Africa Cares for Life

Amato Pregnancy Counselling Centre

anti-choice lies

anti-choice manipulation

anti-choice misinformation

anti-choice scare-mongering

Cheryllyn Dudley

Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act

crisis pregnancy centres

Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction

Health Professions Council of South Africa

post-abortion syndrome

post-traumatic stress disorder

Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition

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/