Benin: MPs adopted a new law on the right to abortion
Beninese National Assembly in Porto Novo (illustration).
RFI / Carine Frenk
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The text, very controversial, clarifies the existing system so far.
Abortion is allowed, but only in very specific cases.
A second law on the suppression of sexual violence was also adopted.
Recourse to abortion can now be done at the woman's request and under specific conditions.
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With our correspondent in Cotonou
,
Jean-Luc Aplogan
The President of the Assembly was the first to denounce the project, speaking of “
denial of the child's right to life
”.
Several other deputies followed it by declaring that "
it is immoral, we ask the government to withdraw this law
".
The clergy also got involved, denouncing in a solemn declaration: "
the legalization of abortion and the culture of death
".
Surprise on arrival, the project was voted unanimously.
There was no legal vacuum since Benin had legislation on abortion since 2003. This Wednesday, the deputies just amended and above all supplemented it.
Indeed, the law of 2003 allowed the woman to resort to the abortion, when her health is threatened or when the fetus she carries suffers from a serious affection.
Now, with this new text, abortion is authorized when the pregnancy is the consequence of rape or for economic reasons.
The law stipulates that the woman, if she wishes, can have an abortion if her pregnancy causes a situation of material, professional or moral distress.
Abortion must be done on medical prescription and it is forbidden to voluntarily terminate a pregnancy after 12 weeks.
It is an act of public health that will save human lives, defended the Minister of Health after the passage of the law.
Benjamin Hounkpatin indicates that unsafe abortions represent 20% of maternal mortality in Benin.
The second law passed last night punishes with prison sentences and fines the perpetrators and accomplices of harassment and sexual assault, rape, early and forced marriage, genital mutilation.
The penalties go up to twenty years in prison depending on the offense.
The law also prohibits and punishes any romantic relationship between a teacher and his learner, and in no case can the consent of the learner be withheld.
The repression of these offenses is entrusted to the Court for the repression of economic offenses and terrorism (Criet).
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