Abortion Laws

While I'm not sure about the broad blanket statement regarding abortion becoming increasingly inaccessible, I generally agree with what you are saying. The part about unsafe abortions has definitely been proved by what you can see in Chile.

In Chile, abortions are illegal. This has triggered a movement that was most likely unaccounted for initially. Women put themselves in harm's way to have “accidental abortions”- the only legal way to have an abortion in the country. A few Chilean women made a really dark YouTube series of a “how to” on accidental abortions. One video teaches the viewer how to loosen a high heel so that the pregnant woman accidentally falls over a fire hydrant onto her stomach, hurting both her and the baby in the process.

Yes, people in the U.S. will have their different opinions on whether abortion is right or not. Expression of beliefs and differing political views make up the base of the U.S.'s "freedom". But from a perspective of keeping women safe, abortion shouldn't be completely illegal. Outlawing abortion won't stop abortions from happening. Instead, women will seek unsafe ways to have abortions.

This is definitely a serious concern. According to the WHO, 47,000 women die every year due to complications from unsafe abortions and over 20 million undergo such a procedure, overwhelmingly in developing countries.

If politicians and other individuals are attempting to reduce abortions from happening, banning them is not the right way. In the US, the percentage of abortions is at an all time-low - this is partially due to the mandatory coverage of contraception by employers under the ACA. Trump's plan to roll back this provision is thus particularly disconcerting to me.

I definitely agree with both of you. From my perspective, I feel like safety shouldn't really be something to decide or negotiate - safety of the people, that is. It's quite clear, particularly in the example you gave with Chilean women and abortions, that should a restriction be placed on abortion, it poses a lot of dangerous situations. Using unsterilized equipment will transmit diseases, notably HIV/AIDS among other blood-borne diseases. Receiving the surgery from someone who is not a trained professional obviously has a lot of risks. Any way you slice it, abortion shouldn't be entirely illegal because it creates a breeding ground for danger.

I strongly agrees with you making abortion illegal only jeapordize more lives and if this is a situation of United States then one can only imagine what women in developing countries are going through where Abortion is a controversial issue and has always been. Women who bear the brunt of pregnancy and child birth, have the least say in the decision making process but do want at least to have a choice in the matter. The Population Council of Pakistan (PCP) data shows that more than 50 per cent of married women do not want a second child. Between 1990-91 and 2006-07, the proportion of women who wanted to limit their family size increased from 40 per cent to 52 per cent, and those in urban areas preferred smaller families. But Pakistan’s legal system does not give women the control over what is such an important decision. The Section 338 of the PPC says, before the foetus organs are formed, the offence is penalised by imprisonment for 3–10 years. After organs are formed, compensation (diyat) is imposed. Imprisonment may also be imposed. Abortion is only permissible for saving the life of the mother or providing her ‘necessary treatment’ (until the organs of the child have formed, following which only the life exception applies). Whether it is a pre-marital teenage pregnancy, with the young girl at the mercy of social stigma, or it is a rape survivor who has been unfortunately impregnated – the choice to lose the foetus during the early weeks is not allowed, unless situation is dire. I believe as male member of the society that men should also be advocating about women right of abortion because in the end it's women body and it should be her decision.

Definitely agree with that! I've always found it a little strange that the conservative viewpoint is that women shouldn't have independence over the government in their private lives and matters, such as regarding the right of abortion.

There is also this one misconception here in Pakistan about abortion which is that Abortion is forbidden in religion which is completely wrong. There are no clear guidelines regarding abortion in Quran. This typical mindset are of those who are mostly illiterate.

I agree with you all on the issue at hand. Abortion related topics in my country Ghana is not discussed among young people forgetting about the root causes which is teenage pregnancy.

I suggest that in order to reduce the high rate of teenage pregnancy, Comprehensive Sexuality Education should be introduced to all Basic and High schools in the country in order to educate the students on their reproductive right and to help them make informed decisions as regards to their Sexual and Reproductive health rights (SRHR)

Along similar lines, adolescent friendly centers in the country are also not working effectively in order for young people to patronize their services. In addition to this, the adolescent friendly corners must as well operate at night and weekend which they are not doing therefore any young person pregnant as a student finds illegal way to abort it.

Yes, sexual education classes are definitely really important in this effort. In Ghana, are there (reproductive) health classes currently in place? Are these adolescent friendly centers similar to US organizations like Planned Parenthood?

International Planned Parenthood Federation and other organizations are leading the process to increase comprehensive sexuality education but the Challenge here is that the The ministry of education see the education as the gateway to introduce young people to have sex while the ministry of health also see it as the only way to reduce teenage pregnancies and unintended abortion. The dynamic is the issue here in Ghana