{"id":231744,"date":"2020-09-30T14:50:31","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T19:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=231744"},"modified":"2020-09-29T17:02:54","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T22:02:54","slug":"united-nations-agencies-pressure-malawi-liberalize-abortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/united-nations-agencies-pressure-malawi-liberalize-abortion\/","title":{"rendered":"United Nations agencies pressure Malawi to liberalize abortion laws"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

(C-Fam – Washington, D.C.<\/a>)\u00a0Legislators in Malawi are facing<\/a> heavy pressure to liberalize the country\u2019s abortion laws during the current parliamentary session. Religious leaders are calling for the proposed Termination of Pregnancy Bill to be shelved.\u00a0 Meanwhile, organizations with international funding sources, as well as UN entities, are coordinating to ensure the bill is passed.<\/p>\n

Currently, Malawi allows abortion only to save the mother\u2019s life. The proposed bill would allow<\/a> \u201csafe\u201d and \u201clegal\u201d abortions in cases of fetal anomalies, cases of rape or incest, and if the pregnancy is said to threaten the physical or mental health of the mother. Malawi\u2019s Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship pointed out<\/a> that similar health exceptions have \u201cled other countries to effectively practice abortion on demand.\u201d It is also notable that while the rape and incest exception has a 16-week gestational limit, there is no such restriction on the health exception.<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0Survey shows 85% of Kenyans are pro-life, despite international pressure to legalize abortion<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n