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In Botswana, abortion is not available upon request. It only permitted in certain cases, which include: when the pregnancy endangers the physical or mental health of the woman, when there is severe risk of fetal impairment, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/2753/botswana Botswana - Women on Waves]</ref> <ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws Map]</ref> If someone illegally receives an abortion, they may be subject to up to seven years in prison.<ref>[http://www.gov.bw/en/Citizens/Sub-Audiences/Women/Unsafe-Abortions/ Government of Botswana: Unsafe Abortions]</ref> | In Botswana, abortion is not available upon request. It only permitted in certain cases, which include: when the pregnancy endangers the physical or mental health of the woman, when there is severe risk of fetal impairment, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/2753/botswana Botswana - Women on Waves]</ref> <ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws Map]</ref> If someone illegally receives an abortion, they may be subject to up to seven years in prison.<ref>[http://www.gov.bw/en/Citizens/Sub-Audiences/Women/Unsafe-Abortions/ Government of Botswana: Unsafe Abortions]</ref> | ||
Until 1991, Botswana did not permit abortion, and exceptions to the law were not granted. However, beginning the 1980s, the government began to see increased challenges to its strict abortion policies, as there were increased spotlight based on the high maternal mortality and morbidity rates under the current laws. Today, Botswana has rather liberal abortion laws compared to many other sub-Saharan African countries, but the laws still do not allow a huge percentage of women to receive a legal abortion.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion Laws - Botswana]</ref> For this reason, it's reportedly fairly common for women in Botswana to travel to South Africa in order to receive legal abortions upon request. If women cannot afford to travel to South Africa, they may resort to clandestine abortion providers in Botswana, some of whom may provide unsafe or unsanitary conditions for abortions. The government of Botswana is concerned about the safety of these providers. While there is a movement to liberalize abortion laws in Botswana, there are also a strong Christian-based lobby that aims to prevent full legalization of abortion.<ref>[http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=47067 Abortion Clinics Target Botswana]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||