{UAH} 50 women jailed for having illegal abortions in Rwanda
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50 women jailed for having illegal abortions in Rwanda
Fiona Anglin
Rwanda will be releasing 50 women, after President Paul Kagame has pardoned, the illegal act which they have committed of having illegal abortions.
Six of whom was given life sentences, the highest punishment that was ordered by the court, two serving 25 years and the remaining serving from 12 months to 20 years.
Tom Mulisa, Executive Director for Great Lakes initiative for Human Rights and Development has said "it's a positive step."
Dr Agnes Odhiambo of Human Rights Watch in Kenya said " they should have never been jailed in the first place for exercising their reproductive rights and that the Government of Rwanda should remove punitive measures for women who undergo abortions."
Rwanda revised it penal code in 2018,.making abortion only legal under the circumstances of:
1. Minors
2. Rape
3. Forced marriages
4. Incest
5. Medical - when the pregnancy causes health risks
Even when termination is allowed, it must be carried out my a doctor, where in a country doctors are at a shortage. The conditions which only recognized a medical doctor to be able to perform the illegal abortion(s), makes safe abortions almost impossible for women and girls to access, particularly those who are poor, illiterate and are from rural areas.
Figures from Rwanda Medical and Dental Counsil shows that the country has 1 doctor for every 10, 055 people and 1 midwife for every 4, 064 age women ages 15 to 49.
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-- Fiona Anglin
Rwanda will be releasing 50 women, after President Paul Kagame has pardoned, the illegal act which they have committed of having illegal abortions.
Six of whom was given life sentences, the highest punishment that was ordered by the court, two serving 25 years and the remaining serving from 12 months to 20 years.
Tom Mulisa, Executive Director for Great Lakes initiative for Human Rights and Development has said "it's a positive step."
Dr Agnes Odhiambo of Human Rights Watch in Kenya said " they should have never been jailed in the first place for exercising their reproductive rights and that the Government of Rwanda should remove punitive measures for women who undergo abortions."
Rwanda revised it penal code in 2018,.making abortion only legal under the circumstances of:
1. Minors
2. Rape
3. Forced marriages
4. Incest
5. Medical - when the pregnancy causes health risks
Even when termination is allowed, it must be carried out my a doctor, where in a country doctors are at a shortage. The conditions which only recognized a medical doctor to be able to perform the illegal abortion(s), makes safe abortions almost impossible for women and girls to access, particularly those who are poor, illiterate and are from rural areas.
Figures from Rwanda Medical and Dental Counsil shows that the country has 1 doctor for every 10, 055 people and 1 midwife for every 4, 064 age women ages 15 to 49.
"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"
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