Currently, abortion is criminalized in Sri Lanka completely, unless it can be proven that it is necessary to save the life of the woman.2 This means women cannot access legal and safe abortions.
Around 700 abortions are performed daily in Sri Lanka3, which also accounts for the second leading cause of maternal deaths in 2006, 2008 and 20104. Criminalization of abortion has only driven the practice underground, with women resorting to illegal and often unsafe abortions5. The Country Profile on Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Sri Lanka (2015)6 states, ‘Maternal death due to septic abortion is the third highest cause for maternal death, at 13% (FHB, 2012).’ It also states, ‘However, considering the...data, its legal status does not prevent women from seeking abortions, but does prevent women from seeking immediate medical assistance when complications occur... patients are brought in when the conditions are severe and are also at risk of being charged for procuring illegal abortions.’’
The CEDAW Committee also expressed concern that in Sri Lanka, abortion is still a punishable offence under the law, unless the purpose is to save the life of the mother, and expressed regrets that about 10 per cent of maternal mortality is reported as the direct result of clandestine abortion. In its Concluding Observations on the Eighth Periodic Report, the Committee reiterated its recommendation to the State to decriminalize abortion .
The continued criminalization of abortion is a crisis for women’s rights, women’s health and wellbeing in Sri Lanka; it is as a serious obstacle to our ability to make empowered and autonomous decisions as equal citizens. To choose the termination of an unwanted pregnancy, under any circumstances, is a fundamental human right.
We are concerned about the ‘religious’ and moralistic framework given to this debate by some opponents of decriminalization8. We assert that this is not a moral or religious matter, it is a matter of women’s human rights, dignity and choice. A response to this debate must be a response to women primarily, regardless of class, caste and circumstance. This call to legalize abortion is not a moral one - it is a position which centers the decision-making power of women, and sees the need to reform outdated, colonial legislation, so that women’s rights and autonomy can be enjoyed in full.
We will continue to campaign and work towards decriminalization of abortion unconditionally. At this juncture we support the cabinet’s decision to ease the existing laws criminalizing abortion and we ask the state not to be swayed in this decision.
1. We urge the government to promote, protect and fulfill all the rights of all women, and to fulfill its responsibility towards its citizens. Significant decisions such as this, with regards to citizens’ rights should not be influenced by religious or other institutions, in a secular and democratic state such as ours.
2. We urge the government strongly, to support the proposed amendments to existing abortion legislation and to continue to work with public health officials, women’s rights advocates, medical professions, and psychological-support experts to decriminalize abortion without limitation, and provide women the right and access to safe and legal abortion services.
3. We strongly urge the government to acknowledge every woman’s right to autonomously make decisions with regards to her own body, health and wellbeing -- physiological and emotional - unconditionally.
Signatories
1. Dabindu Collective
2. Hashtag Generation
3. Mannar Women's Development Federation
4. Suriya Women's Development Centre
5. Vallamai
6. Women and Media Collective
7. Women’s Education and Research Center (WERC)
8. Women in Need
9. Women's Action Network
10. Youth Advocacy Network, Sri Lanka
11. Anusha Alagarajah
12. Ermiza Tegal
13. Gameela Samarasinghe
14. Harini Amarasuriya, Open University of Sri Lanka
15. Hemalatha M.
16. Iromi Perera, Resercher
17. Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, Goodwill Ambassador for Women's Rights, Ministry of Women's Affairs
18. Jensila Majeed
19. Kamani Jinadasa
20. Kumudini Samuel, Women and Media Collective
21. Mahaluxmy Kurushanthan
22. Mythili B
23. Niventhini S.
24. Priya Mohan
25. Prof. Kumari Jayewardena
26. Radhika Guneratne
27. Rajani Rajeswary
28. Riyadh R.
29. Sachni Perera, Resurj
30. Sharmini V.
31. Sherine Xavier, The Social Architects.
32. Shermal Wijewardene
33. Shreen Saroor
34. Subha Wijesiriwardene, Women and Media Collective
35. Sumika Perera, Women's Resource Centre36. Tehani Ariyaratne
37. Tharshan S.
38. Vagisha Gunasekara, American institute for Lankan Studies.
39. Zainab Ibrahim, Researcher
Foot Notes:
1. http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/08/23/local/126027/bill-allow-aborting-foetus-two-counts
2. Sri Lanka Penal Code - Sections 303 - 307
3. Abeykoon A.T.P.L, Estimates of abortion rates in Sri Lanka using Bongaarets Model of Proximate Determinants of Fertility: 4-5.Abeykoon A.T.P.L, Estimates of abortion rates in Sri Lanka using Bongaarets Model of Proximate Determinants of Fertility: 4-5.
4.Family Health Bureau. National Maternal Mortality Reviews – 2011
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673519/
6.http://womenandmedia.org/country-profile-on-universal-access-to-reproductive-rights-sri-lanka/
7. http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CEDAW%2fC%2fLKA%2fCO%2f8&Lang=enhttp://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CEDAW%2fC%2fLKA%2fCO%2f8&Lang=en http://www.nation.lk/2007/12/02/eyefea6.htm
8. http://www.nation.lk/2007/12/02/eyefea6.htm
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