Abortion in Benin is legally permitted "upon the request of the pregnant woman, voluntary termination of pregnancy can be allowed when the pregnancy is likely to aggravate or cause a situation of material, educational, professional or moral distress incompatible with the interest of the woman and/or the unborn child…"[1] in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.[2]
Benin's Parliament passed a new legal amendment to the Sexual Health and Reproduction (SRH) 2003 Law on Wednesday 20 October 2021.[3] Under Benin's previous abortion law, which was passed in 2003, a woman can only terminate the pregnancy if her life is at risk, if the pregnancy is a result of incest or rape, or if the foetus has a particularly serious medical condition.[4][5] A select list of experts were allowed to examine a pregnancy to determine whether the only option for saving the woman's life is to induce abortion.[6] The law was created due to lobbying by doctors, supported by the country's minister for social affairs Véronique Tognifode, and health minister Benjamin Hounkpatin, who have both worked as gynecologists.[7] President Patrice Talon supported the law, and the legislators present during the final vote passed the law unanimously.
Impact of strict abortion laws[edit]
Self-induced abortions have been growing in Benin, especially among students in high school or university, and the average age of abortion recipients is 19.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Ouedraogo, Ramatou. "Benin's groundbreaking new abortion law will save the lives of many women". The Conversation. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ Job, Chisom Peter. "'Letting women decide': Activists hail Benin abortion vote". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ "FIGO releases statement welcoming Benin's new law improving access to safe abortion". Figo. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ ICMA - Laws on Abortion - Benin Chișinău, Moldova: International Consortium for Medical Abortion (ICMA). 2003
- ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Benin liberalizes abortion law | DW | 10.11.2021". DW.COM. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
- ^ a b Abortion Policies: Oman to Zimbabwe. United Nations Publications. 2001. ISBN 9789211513653. Retrieved 4 December 2014.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Peltier, Elian (Nov 13, 2022). "While Abortion Rights Shrink in U.S., This Small Country Expanded Access". The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
