Block of anti-life NGOs seeking to bring “therapeutic” abortion back to Nicaragua

Managua, Nicaragua, Jan 12, 2007 / 11:03 am

A block of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is arguing that a recent decision to ban so-called therapeutic abortion in Nicaragua is unconstitutional and is seeking to get the law overturned.

According to media reports, medical associations and feminist movements, together with the controversial Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights, and international legal advisors, have filed a case before Nicaragua’s Supreme Court regarding the country’s recent Penal Code reform, which resulted in a ban on “therapeutic” abortions.

The effort to ban “therapeutic” abortion, a term which usually covers any abortion deemed “necessary” to protect the life, health, or mental-health of the mother, was backed by former Nicaraguan president Enrique Bolaños.

According to feminist leader Maria Martha Blandon, the group must wait 60 days after the passage of the reform before filing an appeal, and the waiting period will end on January 15th.  She said the appeal would require a ruling by the entire Supreme Court.

The high court would have four months to study the case and hear testimony from experts.  “We know they are not experts in matters of human rights, health and reproductive rights, but we hope that this time we will be called and will be able to argue our case,” Blandon said.

Sources tell CNA that the NGOs are being advised by Monica Roa, the Colombian lawyer who successfully led an effort to get abortion decriminalized in her country.