China says it’s restricting abortions to promote gender equality. Experts are skeptical

Analysis by Jessie Yeung and Nectar Gan, CNN

Fri October 1, 2021

Hong Kong (CNN) For decades, Chinese authorities imposed strict limits on families that forced millions of women to abort pregnancies deemed illegal by the state.

That harsh practice has become less common since China relaxed its one-child policy in 2015. So when news emerged this week that the government wants to reduce abortions for "non-medical reasons," the backlash was swift and furious.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/01/china/non-medical-abortions-mic-intl-hnk/index.html

01.10.2021

sex-selective abortion

Abortion pledge adds to scepticism over women’s rights in China

Analysis: plan to reduce abortions as birthrates plunge draws comparisons to The Handmaid’s Tale

Helen Davidson in Taipei
Wed 29 Sep 2021

Far-reaching proposals from Beijing on “women’s development” have sparked concern over a pledge to reduce abortions, with feminists and academics pointing to the government’s history of control over women’s reproductive rights.

On Monday China’s state council published its latest 10-year outline for women’s development. The lengthy document contained guidelines for China’s gender-based policy, but it was a short phrase that caught particular attention: a pledge to “reduce abortions conducted for non-medical reasons”.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/29/abortion-pledge-adds-to-scepticism-over-womens-rights-in-china

29.09.2021

China restricts abortions for ‘non-medical purposes’

Move comes as China introduces new policies aimed at encouraging families to have more children amid concerns over a decline in birthrates.

27 Sep 2021

China has issued new guidelines restricting the number of abortions performed for “non-medical purposes”.

The State Council, China’s cabinet, published the new rules on Monday.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/27/china-restricts-abortions-for-non-medical-purposes

27.09.2021

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An aging China is going to make it harder for women to get abortions

By Jane Li & Tripti Lahiri
Published September 27, 2021

For decades, abortion was freely available to women in China. In fact, as a tool of the one-child policy, it was traumatically forced on women to make them conform to the state’s need to reduce the population.

But now that China is far more worried about its shrinking population, it seems to be reversing course and moving towards more carefully controlling how woman access abortion. In other words, abortion will continue to be a tool of state policy in China—it’s just that the policy has changed.

Continued: https://qz.com/2065112/china-will-make-abortions-harder-for-women-to-get/

27.09.2021

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Japan urged to abolish third-party consent from abortion law

Restrictions amount to ‘sexual assault’ on women by Japanese state, say rights campaigners

Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Mon 27 Sep 2021

Women’s health campaigners have urged Japan’s government to amend a law that forces married women to seek consent from their husbands before they can have an abortion.

Japan is one of only 11 countries that require third-party consent for abortions, despite calls to end the practice by the World Health Organization and other groups.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/27/japan-urged-to-abolish-third-party-consent-from-abortion-law

27.09.2021

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China to clamp down on abortions for ‘non-medical purposes’

Policy uses women as tool for economic goals and could endanger their lives, says rights group

Kaamil Ahmed
Mon 27 Sep 2021

China’s pledge to limit abortions puts women’s bodies under the state’s control just as the one-child policy did and could endanger the lives of women seeking abortions, rights groups have said.

The Chinese government announced on Monday that it would seek to reduce abortions for “non-medical reasons” – a move seen as being in line with its attempts to accelerate birthrates.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/27/china-to-limit-abortions-for-non-medical-purposes

World Contraception Day 2021: History, theme and significance of global event to raise awareness about family planning

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, it has negatively impacted the well-being of women in multiple ways, including contraception, family planning and gender-based violence

FP Staff
September 26, 2021

The international community observes World Contraception Day on 26 September to recognise the right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children. The importance of it was asserted at the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, and is reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under target 3.7. “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes”.

Continued: https://www.firstpost.com/health/find-out-the-importance-of-contraception-day-in-a-world-plagued-by-covid-19-9999531.html

26.09.2021

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India – Rape survivor watches videos on YouTube, performs self-abortion in Nagpur

Soumitra Bose / TNN
Sep 25, 2021

NAGPUR: A 24-year-old rape survivor performed an abortion on herself, including snapping the umbilical cord, guided by YouTube videos, at her residence in North Nagpur. The woman was alone at home as her family had gone to Mumbai when she delivered the stillborn fetus in the seventh month of pregnancy. The fetus was buried by her paramour, who is already married with a son from his second wife.

In her statement to the police, the rape victim said her paramour had forced himself upon her on more than 50 occasions since 2016 at different places. The paramour, Sohail Wahab Khan, is now in custody of Yashodhara Nagar police station after being arrested on charges of rape on Thursday.

Continued: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/rape-survivor-performs-own-abortion-cuts-umbilical-cord-seeing-youtube-videos/articleshow/86493454.cms?from=mdr

25.09.2021

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India – Is Media Channeling The Right Information On Abortion?

By Nayla Khwaja
September 16, 2021

As we know, pregnancy is usually celebrated
in Indian society and is considered a blessing and especially so, abortion
remains a tricky subject and has long been considered a taboo.

Abortion has been legal in India for past 50 years under certain circumstances
with the introduction of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971 – “It can be performed until 24 weeks
pregnancy after Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act amendment 2021 comes in
force by notification in Gazette of India with notification of formation of
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment 2021 rules and regulations.” Until
then, abortion law in India allowed termination of pregnancy till 20 weeks. The
latest amendments to the MTP act further increase the upper gestation limit for
termination of pregnancies under special conditions and aim to improve access
to safe and quality services for women.

Continued: https://feminisminindia.com/2021/09/16/is-media-channeling-the-right-information-on-abortion/

16.09.2021

Medical Termination Of Pregnancy (MTP) Act 1971

MTP Act

sex selection abortion

As US abortion ban sparks fierce backlash, India forges ahead in reproductive rights

Activists say governments must do more to ensure women’s safety during abortions

September 13, 2021
By Susanti Sarkar / New Delhi

The passing of a new law in Texas that literally bans abortions has caused an outrage around the world, especially since the United States is seen as one of the most liberal countries in the world. India may be miles ahead in legalising abortions and making it relatively easier to access, but abortions remain a taboo subject in India as well. One of the most serious consequences that reproductive rights experts fear is the possible rise in unsafe abortions, which is statistically much worse in developing countries like India, where unsafe abortions are the third-leading cause of maternal deaths. Activists are concerned that despite a recent amendment to abortion law in India, it still denies women the final say on the matter.

Continued: https://mediaindia.eu/politics/as-us-abortion-ban-sparks-fierce-backlash-india-forges-ahead-in-reproductive-rights/