SOUTH AFRICA
Access to Safe Pregnancy Termination, 2018.
Description: The likes of Amnesty International, Sonke Gender Justice and Medecins Sans Frontieres are embarking on a #MyBody, MyChoice campaign' to challenge the stigma associated with pregnancy termination. Abortion has been legal in the country for over 20 years since the adoption of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996. But, these organisations say due to limited services, discrimination and the ineffectiveness of this law, women and girls are forced to use illegal services which sometimes lead to deaths. But...others are completely opposed to the whole idea of abortion.
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ABORTION KEY TIMELINE
2024 ABORTION RIGHTS REAFFIRMED
Laws maintained
2023 WOMEN-LED ORGS PROVIDE CARE
Abortion Support South Africa and Marie Stopes Org begin a national effort to provide affordable abortion pills through telemedicine.
1996 CHOICE ON TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY ACT
Post-Apartheid Government expands Access:
On demand: 12 Weeks; Broader conditions: 20 Weeks
1994 Women of all races gain RIGHT TO VOTE
1975 ABORTION AND STERILIZATION ACT
Apartheid Government further restricts access, allowing Therapeutic Abortion, with two doctor approval.Safe abortion only available to white women.
1960- 1994 ANTI-APARTHEID MOVEMENT
Activists lead decades of struggle against racist policies, including the denial of healthcare to Black citizens.
1910-60s ABORTION REMAINS CRIMINALIZED
Strict Restrictions as a Union under British Rule
1800 ABORTION CRIMINALIZED
Under Dutch and British colonial rule