Nicaragua: Prohibit abortion in all cases

Changes in Nicaragua's new abortion ban have been met with fierce opposition from women's rights protection organizations (Photo: TTO).

With 52 votes in favor and no votes against, on October 26 the Nicaragua parliament passed a bill banning abortion even in the case of a life threatening mother.

Nicaragua now has a strict law against abortion, with women and doctors involved in abortion being imprisoned for up to six years. In the new bill, there are provisions to suggest an increase in penalties of up to 30 years, but not approved by MPs.

According to Reuters news agency, hundreds of people protested outside the parliament building in the capital, Managua. Ho thinks that this law is a death sentence for about 400 women who carry the uterus in Nicaragua each year. 'They are forcing many women and girls to die,' said one protester named Xiomara Luna.

Women's rights protection organizations also strongly oppose. A human rights group called the Women's Autonomous Movement is preparing to file a court injunction to prevent this law.

The bill now has to wait for President Enrique Bolanos to sign. However, according to the BBC's Americas editor, a poll in Nicaragua, with about 85% of Catholics, shows that most people support this law.

T.VY