Abortion in Vanuatu

Abortion in Vanuatu is severely restricted by criminal law.[1] Abortion is illegal under the provisions of section 117 of the Vanuatu Penal Code, Act No. 17 or 7 August 1981.[2] The code states that any woman who intentionally induces a miscarriage is subject to up to two years' imprisonment.[1] Abortion is illegal in cases of rape, incest, and threats to fetal health.[3] The only allocations for abortion are "for good medical reasons",[4] which a United Nations report interprets as to save the life of the pregnant woman and to preserve her physical and mental health.[5] Section 113 of the code states that "No person shall, when a woman is about to be delivered of the child, prevent the child from being born alive by any act or omission of such a nature that, if the child had been born alive and had, then died..." although the italicized statement is vague about its meaning.[4]

Self-induced abortions

The Vanuatu Family Health Association reports various methods women use for self-induced abortions, including the use of local leaves or bark from a tree.[3] Abortions like this that are outside of the medical system endanger the lives of women, as even an immediate visit to a nearby hospital or clinic may be futile if that medical facility does not have the equipment to repair any damage.[3]

References
  1. Abortion Policies: Oman to Zimbabwe. United Nations Publications. 2001. ISBN 9789211513653. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  2. "Abortion Policies: a review of policies, legislation and social indicators for the South Pacific". www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  3. Graue, Catherine (20 June 2014). "New study to research Vanuatu's illegal abortions with fears rates are increasing". ABC News. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  4. "Penal Code Act 1981". www.paclii.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  5. World Population Policies 2017: Abortion Laws and Policies, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2020.


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