October 21, (THEWILL) – Parliamentarians in Benin have voted to legalise abortion in the West African country.
Under the new law, women can terminate a pregnancy 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”.
Previously, abortion was authorised if the pregnancy “threatened the life of the mother”, was “the result of a rape or incest” or when “the unborn child has a particularly severe infection”.
After a heated debate in parliament on Wednesday evening, with some lawmakers strongly opposed to legalising abortion further, the amendment was finally passed.
“In Benin, nearly 200 women die each year due to complications resulting from illegal abortion. 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”, Health minister, Benjamin Hounkpatin, said in a statement on Thursday.
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