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In March, the Mozambican legislature is expected to pass a bill that would revise the country’s draconian abortion law and legalize voluntary abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In doing so, Mozambique would become the ninth African country to liberalize its abortion policy in the last decade. Since 2003, 28 countries have ratified an African Union protocol supporting the right to abortion in cases of rape, incest, or high-risk pregnancies. In these incremental changes, there may be signs of a continental shift.
Mozambique takes first step against backroom abortions
Seeded on Wed Feb 8, 2012 5:12 AM EST
Article Source: Christian Science Monitor- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
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In moving towards legalization, the Mozambican government is hoping to replicate the experience of its neighbor South Africa, where legalized abortion contributed to a 91 percent drop in the maternal mortality rate over five years in the 1990s. Yet the examples of South Africa and Zambia, another of Mozambique’s neighbors, have also shown that the widespread social stigma continues to fuel clandestine abortions even after legalization.
Mozambique’s proposed law would require a referral from two doctors, and parental authorization for minors. For a procedure that is most often performed by midwives and nurses under a veil of secrecy, it remains to be seen just how much will change.
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