South Africa: #SizaMap: Where to get a safe, legal abortion in SA

#SizaMap: Where to get a safe, legal abortion in SA
15 Mar 2017
Ina Skosana, Joan van Dyk

No national database of legal abortion providers in South Africa existed – so Bhekisisa made one.

Abortion has been legal in South Africa for more than 20 years, yet the black market for backstreet abortions still flourishes.

A recent briefing report by human rights organisation Amnesty International found that less than 7% of the country’s 3 880 health facilities offered termination of pregnancy services.

As part of a February story on abortion, Bhekisisa asked the national health department for a database of public health facilities that offered these services and was told that no such list existed. Instead, it was told that databases of abortion providers were kept at district health offices.

Continued at source: Bhekisisa: http://bhekisisa.org/article/2017-03-15-where-to-get-a-safe-legal-abortion-in-south-africa-searchable-map-database-1

15.03.2017

Amnesty International

Louise Carmody

map of abortion facilities in South Africa

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

14.02.2017

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South Africa: Abortion, 20 years on: Still contested, still needed

Abortion, 20 years on: Still contested, still needed

by Rebecca Davis, South Africa
01 Feb 2017

This week marks the 20th anniversary of South Africa’s Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, one of the world’s most liberal abortion laws. As a new report shows, though, the distance between what the law envisages and what is happening in reality is wide – to the point where government may be in violation of certain international human rights instruments. By REBECCA DAVIS.

Tuesday, February 1 was what anti-abortion campaigners call “The National Day of Repentance”. The date is considered significant because it was on February 1, 1997 that South Africa implemented the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA), allowing abortion on demand till the 12th week and with certain conditions till the 20th week.

It’s a dark day for those who would like to see abortion done away with, despite the fact that the law is estimated to have reduced abortion-related deaths and injuries by 90%. But the anniversary also provides scant opportunity for celebration among those in favour of reproductive rights, due to the ongoing failure to implement the legislation as envisaged.

[continued at link]
Source, Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-02-01-abortion-20-years-on-still-contested-still-needed/#.WJNfCrqXDMg

Trump’s global gag rule puts safe abortion in jeopardy

Trump’s global gag rule puts safe abortion in jeopardy
Feb 1, 2017

In his first week as President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has demonstrated a callous disregard for women’s rights by reinstating and extending the so-called global gag rule, a policy which will prevent all organisations receiving US foreign aid for health from including abortion referrals or information within their programmes. Not only have similar policies proved ineffective in reducing abortions in the past, the Global Gag Rule has been shown to increase the number of unsafe abortions because it reduces access to a whole range of family planning services.

Trump´s version of the global gag rule expands the policy to all global US health funding, including HIV/AIDS or maternal health. In southern Africa, where HIV-related illnesses and unsafe abortions are a major driver of pregnancy-related deaths. Health experts, including aid agency, Doctors without Borders, warn that thousands of lives are at risk.

[continued at link]
Source, Thought Leader/Amnesty International: http://thoughtleader.co.za/amnestyinternational/2017/02/01/on-guard-against-the-global-gag-rule-barriers-to-safe-abortion/