Abortion and health
A call for a sixth International Day of Action for Women's Health on May 28 has been made by the Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights. This year the focus is on action against illegal abortion, one of the most important causes, worldwide, of maternal mortality and morbidity.
The network reports that at least 200,000 women die every year from illegal abortion; for every woman who dies, 15 others suffer from serious complications.
Even in countries where abortion is legal, still many clandestine and unsafe abortions are performed because services have not been made accessible and affordable, especially for poor or rural women. Women in Australia still die from complications from "backyard" abortions.
Of an estimated 38 million abortions performed annually in Latin American, Caribbean, Asian, African and Pacific countries, only an estimated 17.6 million are legal.
Criminalisation of abortion does not eliminate it, but simply drives it underground. A clear example is Romania under Ceausescu, where abortion was forbidden for any woman under 45 with fewer than five children. Despite the existence of a special arm of the secret police to monitor pregnant women and to keep an eye on married women who did not conceive, the abortion rate and the maternal mortality rate relating to abortion were higher in Romania than in almost any other European country.
On the other hand, comparative research in Europe has shown that the legalisation or liberalisation of abortion has not caused an increase in its incidence. The abortion rate is not dependent on legalisation on its own, but in combination with other conditions such as the availability of contraceptives and sex education. In many central, eastern and southern European countries the abortion figures remained high after legalisation because contraceptives and sex education were hardly
available. In countries where legalisation was accompanied by sex education and contraceptive services, the abortion figure started to drop after legalisation.
Queensland women are still fighting archaic abortion laws which are the legacy of Joh Bjelke-
Petersen's National Party reign, but which have the continued support of the virulently anti-choice ALP premier, Wayne Goss.
As part of the International Day of Action , Children by Choice in Brisbane has organised a vigil in King George Square on May 28 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in remembrance of all the women who die, or whose health is adversely affected, as a result of not having access to legal abortion. On June 4 independent activists have organised another 24-hour vigil to highlight the issues of abortion, prostitution and gay law reform. It will be held outside Parliament House on George St.
In Sydney the Women's Abortion Action Committee is holding a forum on May 28 at 7 p.m., entitled "Abortion: silence no more" at the YWCA, 5 Wentworth Ave, Darlinghurst.
By Karen Fredericks