Nicaragua Refuses To Lift
Abortion Ban
Amnesty International has accused the
Nicaraguan government of "chilling
indifference" to the rights of women and
girls in its refusal to allow any exceptions
to its blanket ban on abortion.
The Nicaraguan law means that even under-age
girls who are raped or who are the victims
of incest are forced to bear any child they
may conceive or risk their life or
imprisonment by seeking an illegal abortion.
A United Nations human rights working group
recommended Nicaragua should change the law,
but the country has refused.
This is Amnesty's Americas program Deputy
Director, Guadalupe Marengo:
"The refusal to support these
recommendations shows contempt for its
obligations under UN treaties to protect
women and girls from human rights
violations. It also demonstrates a chilling
indifference to women and girls in their
country.
It is appalling that the Nicaraguan
authorities, despite being in full knowledge
of the consequences of the total ban, seem
determined to ignore its cruel impact on
women's and girls' lives and to reject these
recommendations to work for a change in law.
Yet again it's missed another opportunity to
right this terrible wrong.
Amnesty international will continue
campaigning on this fundamental human rights
issue, alongside other NGOs working with
women and girl victims of rape and
professional medical associations.
Women and girls in Nicaragua should not be
obliged to continue with pregnancies which
place their lives and health at risk or if
they are a consequence of rape or incest."
The total ban was introduced in 2006.
Nicaragua is one of four countries that
forbid all abortion - the others are El
Salvador, Chile and Malta.
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