Dear Editor,

How long will it take the parliamentary committee to reach a decision regarding the amendment of the laws that continue to criminalise females who wish to have an abortion; especially in cases of rape, incest and where it threatens the very life of the mother? Abortion is still seen as a criminal act under sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Persons Act in Jamaica.

While most persons continue to be pro-choice where this issue is concerned, some very strong-willed individuals remain adamant that the act is wrong. What about the rights to freedom, security of the person and privacy of an individual which ultimately give the woman a right to choose? It is clear that others want to take away this right from these women.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international agreement that the Government made with other countries to protect women from discrimination in its various forms. The Government signed the agreement on September 3, 1981, and it came into effect on October 19, 1984. Within this agreement there was no “right” to abortion and if there was one it would come in conflict with other existing agreements from Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3, which states that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

A recent article submitted to CEDAW by several signatories including the Jamaican Coalition for a Healthy Society, refutes the claim that countries should decriminalise abortion as they gave written contributions towards the theme “access to justice.” It is appalling that the Jamaican network that made a contribution to this submission is one that has several members on its body from religious backgrounds who will never see eye to eye with a woman who readily has an abortion, based on the world view.

The National Family Planning Board said that 7 per cent of all births here are unplanned. This is an indicator that these women are forced to carry a child into the world which could be as a result of rape or incest. While they may have physical complications in carrying these children, these women are not given the opportunity to decide if they want to put themselves through this process. Furthermore, they may put themselves at risk of transmitting STIs, becoming emotional burdens and creating other psycho-social problems.

The argument that a child is a blessing still stands, but that blessing can simply become a curse if you really never wanted it. Woman have rights too and they should have the right to choose, don’t take that from them. As we look forward to International Women’s Day, let us think equality and justice and allow women to have the free will to choose on issues that affect them.

Jason Madden

SRHR Youth advocate