While the United States is getting rid of her abortion right law, West African country, Sierra Leone is making moves to decriminalize abortion in the country.
President Julius Maada Bio announced his government had unanimously backed a bill that would decriminalize abortion in the country.
Maade made the revelation while speaking at the 10th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights, which took place in Freetown, Friday.
“At a time in the world when sexual and reproductive health rights for the women are either being overturned or threatened, we are proud that Sierra Leone can once again lead with progressive reform, Julius Maada Bio said. I want it to be a norm that an African man, an African leader, I can and should speak freely and publicly about menstruation, because there is no shame in menstruation.”
The Sierra Leone parliament will debate and vote on the “risk-free motherhood” bill. The country’s current abortion law dates back to 1861. It allows the procedure only if the mother’s life should be at risk.
The US Supreme Court on last month reversed a nearly half century old constitutional right to abortion.
A report by Guttmacher says during 2010–2014, an estimated 8.2 million induced abortions occurred each year in Africa. This number represents an increase from 4.6 million annually during 1990–1994, mainly because of an increase in the number of women of reproductive age