The Republic of Benin Votes in agreement to Legalize Abortion
In the laws of West Africa’s Republic of Benin, abortions were previously authorized in the country on the bases of three (3) conditions; if pregnancy is a life threat to the mother carrying the pregnancy, if the pregnancy was as a result of rape or incest or when the unborn child has a severe medical condition.
This has changed as the Republic of Benin joined the list of the few countries to legalize abortion after a debate in parliament on 27th October, 2021.
Conditions to perform an authorized abortion are when within the first three months, if it is likely to “aggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child’s interest.”
Several countries in Africa have total bans on abortion, including Congo-Brazzaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal.
In Benin, “nearly 200 women die each year as the result of complications from abortions,” said health minister Benjamin Hounkpatin. “This measure will be a relief for many women who face undesired pregnancies, and are forced to put their lives in danger with botched abortions,” he added.
The minister said that complications from abortions caused 20 percent of maternal deaths in the country. “It is because of this public health threat that the government has taken its responsibilities by submitting a text that lawmakers have passed,” said Hounkpatin.
He said the new measure’s “unique goal” was to “save human lives” and that “voluntary termination of pregnancies will remain a last resort”. The influential Episcopal Conference of Benin said it was “highly preoccupied by the proposed law to legalize abortions”.
The religious population in the country made a statement that “abortion not only destroys the life of the fetus but also that of the mother, in many aspects”, adding that “honest and reliable alternatives” exist.
There were divided opinions but Feminist activist Faustine Adjagba, 35, said it was a good move. “We have to let women chose freely whether or not to have a child,” she said. “And we have to protect women from all these charlatans and fake abortion providers that flourish in our towns and villages.”
But Alphonsine Goudalo, 41, who heads a non-profit organization, said she was outraged and “very disappointed that an entire parliament came to such a conclusion”. “Our religious leaders should step up and force lawmakers to change their vote,” she said.
Abortion laws vary wildly around the world, but only a minority of countries have outright bans. Women from Europe, North America and Oceania benefit from the most liberal legislation, in some cases acquired only recently. On this same 27th, El Salvador’s Congress voted to uphold the country’s complete abortion ban, even on terminations in exceptional circumstances. New Zealand only decriminalized abortion in March 2020. Up to then it was punishable with a 14-year prison term.
