Via AFP News Brief:
Mozambique is set to end its blanket ban on abortion after thegovernment acknowledged that current legislation was endangering thelives of women in one of Africa’s most impoverished nations.
Theproposed shake-up follows the release of a report by the healthministry which said around 100 pregnant women were dying every yearafter seeing backstreet abortionists while many more suffered "seriousafter-effects."
Abortion was first outlawed in the formerPortuguese colony in legislation dating back to 1886, a ban reaffirmedin a 1981 law six years after the southeastern African country gainedindependence.
However Justice Minister Esperanca Machavela hasconfirmed that a review is being drawn up and is likely to be presentedto parliament after it reconvenes in October. With the ruling Frelimoparty enjoying a majority in parliament, government legislation can beexpected to pass comfortably.
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