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Kigali: Difference between revisions
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→Abortion
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===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Rwanda, abortion is legally permitted when the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant individual, when the pregnancy endangers the physical or mental health of the pregnant individual, when there is severe risk of fetal impairment, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest or forced marriage.<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/5017/abortion-law-rwanda Women on Waves: Abortion Law in Rwanda]</ref> <ref>[http://worldabortionlaws.com/map/ World Abortion Laws Map]</ref> <ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201710060060.html Rwanda: Government Moves to Relax Anti-Abortion Law]</ref> <ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/rwanda-abortion/rwandan-rape-survivors-jailed-for-abortion-despite-law-to-help-them-report-idUSL5N11T2OI20150924 Rwandan rape survivors jailed for abortion despite law to help them]</ref> In all other cases, abortion is not legally permitted. This means that it is not available upon request and it is not available for social or economic reasons. The current laws are based on Rwanda's Penal Code of 1977 and the updated Penal Code of 2012.<ref>[http://eaclj.org/about-us/13-the-christian-medical-fellowship-abortion-.html East Africa Centre for Law and Justice: Abortion in Rwanda]</ref> | |||
For an abortion to be legal, it must first be approved by a judge and it can only be performed by a doctor. If the abortion is legally permitted for health-related reasons, it must receive the written approval of two doctors before it can be performed. These restrictions create severe hurdles for many people, as they must have the money and resources to hire lawyers and work within the legal and medical systems before receiving approval for an abortion. Furthermore, courts can be slow in permitting abortions. For example, court orders for an abortion in cases of rape often usually occur after the rapist has been convicted, leading to potentially significant delays for the individual seeking an abortion.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/rwanda-abortion/rwandan-rape-survivors-jailed-for-abortion-despite-law-to-help-them-report-idUSL5N11T2OI20150924 Rwandan rape survivors jailed for abortion despite law to help them]</ref> | |||
For these reasons, it is much more common for Rwandans to seek underground or clandestine abortions than to seek out abortions through legal channels. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||