Abortion was authorized under very restricted conditions Benin Parliamentarians have voted to legalize abortion in the West African country. This law was passed yesterday that women can terminate a pregnancy within the 1st 3months if it is likely to ‘aggravate or cause educational, material, moral distress, professional, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child’s interest’
This amendment was finally passed after a debate in the parliament where some legislators strongly opposed legalizing abortion. Previously abortion was if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, result of rape or incest but now abortion is now legalized by Benin’s Parliamentarian.
The Minister of Health Benjamin Hounkpatin said in a statement on Friday that ‘nearly 200 women die each year as a result of abortion complications
The minister said that complications from abortions were the cause of 20% of maternal deaths in the country.
