Norway – Instrumentalising women’s reproductive vulnerability for political gain: where in the world does it stop?

Instrumentalising women’s reproductive vulnerability for political gain: where in the world does it stop?
November 30, 2018

A move to restrict abortion in Norway is a particularly stark example of the readiness with which women’s reproductive vulnerability is traded as a kind of political capital

There is an extraordinary piece of instrumentalisation of women’s health for political gain going on in an unlikely quarter, just now.

Norway has both a relatively good record on women’s rights, and a balanced and popular abortion law with no popular or parliamentary mandate for change. It also has low and falling abortion rates, 80% of which are conducted as a woman’s choice under 9 weeks, and just 4%—far more tightly regulated than, for example, in either Sweden or the UK—in the second trimester.

Continued: https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/11/30/instrumentalising-womens-reproductive-vulnerability-for-political-gain-where-in-the-world-does-it-stop/

What’s the future of abortion rights in Mexico under AMLO?

What's the future of abortion rights in Mexico under AMLO?
Incoming government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador reignites debate over women's reproductive health in the country.

by Isabella Cota
30 Nov 2018

Mexico City - Mexico's new government is yet to take office, but it has already reignited a fierce debate on women's reproductive rights that could end in a polarising referendum.

Shortly after a landslide victory by left-wing politician Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the July 1 presidential elections, his interior minister-to-be drew both praise and criticism when she declared herself in favour of abortion rights.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2018/11/whats-future-abortion-rights-mexico-amlo-181130202340174.html

Ireland – Doctors to hold EGM over abortion service concerns

Doctors to hold EGM over abortion service concerns

Friday, 30 Nov 2018
By Tommy Meskill

Concerns over how abortion services will be introduced in Ireland have prompted the Irish College of General Practitioners to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of its membership this Sunday.

The college is responsible for the training and education of GPs.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2018/1130/1014279-abortion-services/

30.11.2018

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Ireland – Legislating for abortion is very complex and a clear guiding principle is required

Opinion: Legislating for abortion is very complex and a clear guiding principle is required
The ‘yes’ side contained a wide range of views about when abortion should be permitted – the government can’t please them all, writes Professor Dermot Cox.

Fri Nov 30, 2018
Dermot Cox

THE EIGHTH AMENDMENT did not prohibit abortion – in fact it never mentioned the word abortion, rather it articulated a guiding principle that the foetus had rights that were on par with those of the mother.

The government’s rationale for repealing the eighth was that it tied their hands to legislate in this area. Now it has stated that it will introduce legislation on abortion as this reflects the will of the people in the referendum.

Continued: https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/opinion-legislating-for-abortion-is-very-complex-and-a-clear-guiding-principle-is-required-4367894-Nov2018/

Nigeria – Strict abortion laws inimical to women, says group

Strict abortion laws inimical to women, says group

November 30, 2018

The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) has canvassed for the liberalisation of restrictive abortion laws in Nigeria to enable women access appropriate health care.

President of the Society, Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola, who addressed reporters in Calabar after their 52nd Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, said evidence all over the world has shown that the number of abortions do not increase due to the liberalisation of the law.

Continued: http://thenationonlineng.net/strict-abortion-laws-inimical-women-says-group/

30.11.2018

decriminalisation of abortion

Prof. Oluwarotimi Akinola

Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria

How stigma and restricted access stop Indian women from seeking safe abortions

How stigma and restricted access stop Indian women from seeking safe abortions
When women who approach doctors are denied abortion, they are forced to break the law and opt for unsafe abortion. The result? Unsafe abortions is the third leading cause of maternal mortality in India.

Haripriya Suresh and Shiba Kurian
Friday, November 30, 2018

For her first termination of pregnancy, Aishwarya* had gone to a gynaecologist, but was flat out denied by the doctor, who said she would not perform the abortion. The doctor then referred her to a colleague, who turned out to be an IVF specialist. The second doctor, too, denied her the abortion, and instead asked her to carry the pregnancy to term and have a baby. Aishwarya was seven weeks pregnant at the time, but the IVF specialist refused to give her a medical kit, and stated that she was too far along, and asked her to come in for a prohibitively expensive surgery to abort.

“I walked out of the hospital, went to my neighbourhood pharmacy, asked for the kit, and I self-medicated,” Aishwarya says.

Continued: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/how-stigma-and-restricted-access-stop-indian-women-seeking-safe-abortions-92505

30.11.2018

India Safe Abortion Youth Advocates

International Institute for Population Sciences

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Justice Jasti Chelameswar

Lakshmy Iyengar

maternal deaths

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misoprostol

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Suyash Khubchandani

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Vinoj Manning

women's abortion stories

World Health Organisation

Campaigners in Kenya challenge Marie Stopes abortion ban in court

Campaigners in Kenya challenge Marie Stopes abortion ban in court

30 November 2018
By Nita Bhalla, Thomson Reuters Foundation

NAIROBI - A human rights group on Friday challenged the Kenyan government in court over banning international charity Marie Stopes from providing abortion services, saying the move would drive thousands of women and girls to backstreet clinics.

Kenyan authorities directed Marie Stopes to suspend offering abortions and post-abortion care on Nov. 14, after complaints its media campaign was promoting the termination of unwanted pregnancies - a charge the charity denies.

Continued: https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/campaigners-in-kenya-challenge-marie-stopes-abortion-ban-in-court-18336919

Amendment to bill on grounds sought for abortion defeated in Dáil

Amendment to bill on grounds sought for abortion defeated in Dáil

Thursday, 29 Nov 2018
By Ailbhe Conneely, RTÉ News Political reporter

An amendment proposing that abortions are not sought on grounds of race, sex or disability under the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill has been defeated in the Dáil.

Following a lengthy and often tense Report Stage debate which began last night, TDs voted against the amendment by 71 votes to 21.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/1129/1014230-abortion-amendment-dail/

Ireland – Harris seeks availability of second doctor in abortion cases

Harris seeks availability of second doctor in abortion cases

Thursday, 29 Nov 2018
By Ailbhe Conneely, RTÉ News Political reporter

The Minister for Health has put forward an amendment to the Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill allowing a second practitioner to carry out an abortion procedure if the first practitioner is unavailable.

The amendment relates to the three day wait period, which allows for 72 hours between a woman's first visit and the second visit.

Continued: https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/1128/1013989-abortion-dail/

USA – Abortion foes seek Trump’s help to offset midterm setback

Abortion foes seek Trump's help to offset midterm setback

The Associated Press
David Crary
November 29, 2018

NEW YORK — Anti-abortion leaders are seeking help from the Trump administration as they shift their political strategies now that the U.S. House will be controlled by Democrats who support abortion rights.

Under Republican control, the House tried repeatedly, though unsuccessfully, to halt federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and it passed a bill that would have banned most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The Democratic-led House that takes office in January is likely to push legislation that would expand access to abortion, even if such measures die in the GOP-controlled Senate.

Continued: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/abortion-foes-seek-trumps-help-to-offset-midterm-setback