International Pro-Choice Updates

Recently, the women's health movement has made gains in the fight to liberalize or protect abortion laws.

GUYANA -- In March, 1996, after a two-year debate and public education campaign, Guyana became the only country in Latin America to legalize abortion. The bill says that abortion can be performed by any medical practitioner up to the eighth week of pregnancy, with provisions for up to over the 16th week. The vote on the legislation was taken in conscience, allowing party members to vote freely, and it passed by a vote of 32 to 24. Guyana's minister of health is a woman and her support was crucial in the campaign to make this law a reality.

SOUTH AFRICA -- Like most countries in Africa, South Africa under the apartheid government had a highly restrictive abortion law. The post-apartheid constitution includes a provision for reproductive rights and in October, 1996, South Africa passed one of the world's most progressive abortion laws. Under this law, no parental consent is required for minors. The opinion of qualified medical practitioner (not necessarily a physician) is required up until the 12th week of pregnancy, and provisions are made for late-term abortions.

BRAZIL -- In April, 1996 a coalition of women-led NGOs helped defeat a proposed constitutional amendment that would have guaranteed life from the moment of conception, effectively outlawing abortion, which is currently legal in Brazil if a woman has been raped, or if the pregnancy poses a threat to her life.

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