Parliamentarians in Benin have voted to legalise abortion in the West African country, where it was already authorised under restricted conditions, IgbereTV reports.
Under the new law passed late on Wednesday women can terminate a pregnancy within the first three months if it is likely to âaggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn childâs interestâ.
Previously, abortion was authorised if pursing the pregnancy âthreatened the life of the motherâ, was âthe result of a rape or incestâ or when âthe unborn child has a particularly severe affectionâ.
After a heated debate in parliament, with some lawmakers strongly opposed to legalising abortion further, the amendment finally passed.
âIn Benin, nearly 200 women die each year as the result of abortion complications,â said the health minister Benjamin Hounkpatin in a statement Thursday.
âThis measure will be a relief for many women who face undesired pregnancies, and are forced to put their lives in danger with botched abortions,â he added.
The influential Episcopal Conference of Benin said in a statement that it was âhighly preoccupied by the proposed law to legalise abortions
