September 2, 2023
Sarah McCammon
On the day she was attacked, Akimanizanye Florentine had been trying to earn money to help get through a difficult time at home.
Akimanizanye, who goes by Florentine, was in her late teens then, living in northern Rwanda. She says her family had been struggling after her father had died
Canada stays course on sexual-health education, contraception and family planning
The Canadian Press
July 24, 2023
Foreign-aid groups are praising Ottawa for funding initiatives in developing countries that aim to keep women who care for children or elders from being excluded from the economy.
“Canada actually showed up really strongly,” said Katharine Im-Jenkins, managing director of the Equality Fund, in a recent interview from Kigali.
In Argentina, midwives were prosecuted. In Brazil, clinics were raided. In Rwanda, hundreds of women went to jail
By GILLIAN KANE
MAY 25, 2022
Within the next month it is very likely the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the federal constitutional right to an abortion. When that happens, dormant trigger laws in many states will immediately go into effect and abortion will become a crime. Because abortion will be regulated at the state level, enforcement and penalties will vary greatly. Kentucky, South Dakota, North Dakota, Tennessee, South Carolina and Missouri are just some of the states that would make providing an abortion a felony, with penalties including jail time up to 20 years. Other states, too impatient to wait for the court decision, have already moved to increase penalties for either having or providing an abortion. Louisiana attempted to classify abortion as a homicide, although lawmakers there have since walked back the effort. Texas is uniquely punitive, criminalizing abortion after six weeks and incentivizing enforcement through the private sector by offering bounties of $10,000 cash to deputized ordinary citizens who can sue anyone involved in providing an abortion.
Rwanda to release 50 women jailed for having abortions
Activists welcome pardons, but call for relaxation of abortion laws and an end to punitive measures such as life sentences
Christophe Hitayezu in Kigali
Published on Thu 21 May 2020
Rwanda is to release 50 women who were jailed for having abortions after a personal pardon was issued by the country’s president, Paul Kagame.
Human rights activists welcomed the pending release of the women, six of whom had been given life sentences – the highest penalty available to the courts – two serving 25 years and the others terms ranging from 12 months to 20 years.
As Rwanda frees women arrested on abortion charges, questions come on abortion rights in Africa
Nii Ntreh
May 21, 2020
The president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has pardoned some 50 women who were arrested and prosecuted for the offenses of either having an abortion or assisting in the process.
This follows another 52 who were released last year for the same crime. The country’s Justice Minister, Johnston Busingye, said the most recent release consists of the last batch of women prosecuted for the termination of pregnancies.
Rwanda orders release of young women jailed over abortions
by Ignatius Ssuuna, The Associated Press
Posted May 19, 2020
KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda’s president has pardoned and ordered the release of 50 young women who were jailed for having or assisting with abortions.
Justice Minister Johnston Busingye said the women released Tuesday were the last to be freed. Last year, President Paul Kagame ordered the release of 52 women.
Continued: https://www.570news.com/2020/05/19/rwanda-orders-release-of-young-women-jailed-over-abortions/
Rwandan pardons 52 abortion convicts
Published on 12.10.2019
By APA News
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has signed a decree on pardoning 52 abortion convicts including those convicted for the offenses of infanticide, on the eve of the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child, in a statement obtained Saturday by APA in Kigali. The statement issued from the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Kagame said the presidential pardon means that the President has exercised his power of mercy to give people another chance.
Rwandan minister of Justice, Johnston Busingye said the President finds it fitting to give these convicts a second chance.
Continued: https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/rwandan-pardons-52-abortion-convicts/
Historic progress on abortion rights in Rwanda
May 6, 2019
Last month, Rwanda made historic progress toward advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights: President Paul Kagame pardoned 367 women and girls who had been jailed for abortion, and a ministerial order broadened the conditions under which people can access abortion. As part of the order, girls under 18 have the right to terminate a pregnancy before 22 weeks.
“These steps recognize abortion as a health and rights issue and acknowledge that imprisoning women for abortion does not address the reasons why women have abortions,” says Gillian Kane, Ipas senior policy and advocacy advisor.
Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/2019/May/historic-progress-on-abortion-rights-in-rwanda
Rwandan President Pardons Hundreds Convicted of Having or Assisting in an Abortion
By Tara Law
April 6, 2019
The President of Rwanda pardoned hundreds of people convicted of having or assisting in an abortion this week.
President Paul Kagame pardoned 367 people “convicted for the offenses of abortion, complicity in abortion and infanticide,” the Prime Minister’s cabinet announced on Thursday.
Continued: http://time.com/5565570/rwanda-paul-kagame-women-abortion/
Paul Kagame orders release of women and girls jailed over abortion in Rwanda
Women’s rights activists welcome presidential pardon of 367 female prisoners as evidence of progress
Samuel Okiror
Fri 5 Apr 2019
Rwanda’s president has pardoned hundreds of girls and women jailed for abortion.
The women are expected to be released immediately under the presidential prerogative.
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