Mozambique to legalise abortion!

Mozambique will become one of the four African countries to legalise abortion. Mozambique’s parliament has already approved the groundbreaking legislation, but it still needs to be signed by the President Armando Guebuza.

If signed the new law will mark a major victory for women’s reproductive rights and a step towards addressing unsafe abortions in the country. Unsafe abortion is a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in Mozambique.

Under the new law abortion is permitted within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when it can cause woman physical, psychological or mental harm or if the pregnancy endangers woman’s life. However, adolescent girls under 16 and adolescents girls with mental disabilities must provide consent of a parent, legal guardian or a relative.

(Source: Daily Maverick)