Still no word from Govt on abortions

Advocates for Safe Parenthood: Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE) yesterday said partial-birth abortions are not “a reality” in this country and it is something they will not be lobbying for in TT.

However, the group is still to get a response from the Government on its appeal for a civil law giving women access to safe abortions. ASPIRE’s executive director Glennis Hyacenth said based on the organisation’s research, partial-birth abortions are not done in TT. US  President George W Bush on Wednesday signed legislation banning the procedure, done in the second and third trimesters in which the foetus is partially delivered before being killed, usually by having its skull punctured. ASPIRE has been seeking to have abortion decriminalised in TT and a civil law introduced so  women, especially the poor, will have equal access to safe service. Its campaign for a new law is based on the failure of current legislation and the public health problem created by illegal abortion.

Hyacenth said the organisation is yet to get a response to its plea, and November 25 will be one year since it submitted a document for discussion on the issue, asking for the law to be clarified. She described the delay in getting a response “a bit disturbing.” She said unsafe abortion is a national issue since it crossed all areas of society. She said existing legislation, which dates back to 1863 “is not doing anything” and is driving women to seek unsafe procedures which result in maternal mortality and morbidity. The civil law proposed will give women safe access and gradually unsafe abortions will be reduced and “all abortions altogether.”