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Beirut: Difference between revisions

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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


In Lebanon, you can purchase hormonal birth control without a prescription. In 2007, it was estimated that 58% of Lebanese women use some form of contraception. In Beirut, it was estimated that 26% of women use oral contraceptives, 20% use IUDs, 24% use natural family planning (also known as the "fertility awareness method"), 16% use the withdrawal method and 15% use other methods.<ref>[http://www.lsfm.net/6th%20Annual%20Conference/Sunday/contraception.pdf Contraception: Lebanese Lebanese Society of Family Medicine Lebanese Society Society of Family Me]</ref>
In Lebanon, you can purchase hormonal birth control without a prescription. In 2007, it was estimated that 58% of Lebanese women use some form of contraception. In Beirut, it was estimated that 26% of women use oral contraceptives, 20% use IUDs, 24% use natural family planning (also known as the "fertility awareness method"), 16% use the withdrawal method and 15% use other methods.<ref>[http://www.lsfm.net/6th%20Annual%20Conference/Sunday/contraception.pdf Contraception: Lebanese Lebanese Society of Family Medicine Lebanese Society Society of Family Me]</ref>
 
While Lebanon is liberal compared to many of its neighbors, sex education and premarital sex still remain taboo. In schools, sex education is often limited to basic biological information. Furthermore, there are reports of widespread misinformation surrounding contraception, including the false belief that birth control pills cause infertility. Many women shy away from sex education and family planning guidance, as they may be having premarital sex and feel embarrassed or ashamed.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/bound-by-taboos-lebanese-women-seek-abortions/a-17396085 Bound by taboos, Lebanese women seek abortions]</ref>


===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===
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===Laws & Social Stigmas===
===Laws & Social Stigmas===


===What to Get & Where to Get It===
In Lebanon, abortion is generally illegal, as stated in the Penal Code. It is only permitted when the woman's life is endangered by the pregnancy. This means that for all reasons, including to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment, economic or social reasons, or availability on request, are not permitted. If a woman induces an abortion or consents to anyone performing an abortion her, that woman is subject to six months to three years of imprisonment. The person who performs the abortion (with the consent of the woman) is subject to one to three years of imprisonment. If the woman dies during the abortion, the person performing the abortion is subject to four to seven years in prison. If the woman does not consent to the abortion, the person who performed the abortion is subject to five years of forced labor -- and, if the woman died during the abortion (and did not consent), the person who performed the abortion is subject to at least 10 years of forced labor. If someone performed an abortion to "save the honor" of a descendent or relative to the second degree, or if a woman induced her own abortion to preserve her honor, there will generally be a reduced penalty. However, health care personnel typically receive more stringent penalties, and their licenses will be revoked while their businesses may be closed down.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion Laws, Lebanon]</ref>
 
According to Lebanese law, it is also explicitly illegal to disseminate any information that helps facilitate abortions, or to sell any objects that can help facilitate abortions. If someone does any of these things, they are subject to two months to two years of imprisonment.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm UN Report: Abortion Laws, Lebanon]</ref>
 
Despite the strict laws, women do receive clandestine abortions in Lebanon. According to a 2002 report, "In theory, this law addresses the needs of the Lebanese community and everybody appears to be abiding by it. However, the real picture seems far from this. Experts in the field believe that Lebanese women are constantly breaking the law to accommodate their actual needs (LFPA, 2001). They also claim this violation is well known to policy makers. Yet, they are not willing to act accordingly. For many reasons, they are not ready to modify the law; at the same time, they are not enforcing its implementation but rather turning a blind eye to the perpetrators."<ref>[http://www.theaproject.org/content/abortion-lebanon-practice-and-legality Abortion In Lebanon: Practice and Legality?]</ref> Generally, clinics charge $300-600 for clandestine abortions while hospitals charge around $3000. While some abortions are performed in generally hygienic facilities, many more seem to be performed in more run-down, "back-alley" or less hygienic conditions.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/bound-by-taboos-lebanese-women-seek-abortions/a-17396085 Bound by taboos, Lebanese women seek abortions]</ref>
 
Some personal accounts of abortions in Lebanon:
 
* [http://www.dw.com/en/bound-by-taboos-lebanese-women-seek-abortions/a-17396085 Bound by taboos, Lebanese women seek abortions
* [https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/reportsfeatures/lebanons_abortion_question Lebanon's Abortion Question]
 
===What to Get & Where to Get It===  


===Costs===
===Costs===

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