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Zika virus: the options facing women across Latin America Zika virus: the options facing pregnant women across Latin America
(35 minutes later)
Women across Latin America have been advised to avoid pregnancy amid fears the fast-spreading Zika virus may cause severe brain defects in unborn babies. But with abortion illegal across most of the region, there are few options for those who are already pregnant. Many women across Latin America have been advised to avoid pregnancy amid fears that the rapidly spreading Zika virus may cause severe brain defects in unborn babies. But with abortion illegal across most of the region, there are few options for those who are already pregnant.
Because of the disease’s apparent link to birth defects, with one WHO scientist estimating there could be 3-4m Zika infections in the Americas over the next year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel guidance for pregnant American women and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, warning them to avoid visiting places where the virus is currently circulating. Meanwhile the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel guidance for pregnant American women and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, warning them to avoid visiting places where the virus is currently circulating.
It lists 22 countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission in the Americas, which include: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela. It lists 22 countries and territories with active Zika virus transmission in the Americas: Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Suriname, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
However, in many of these countries it is very difficult, if not impossible, for women who are already pregnant to get an abortion.
Countries and territories in the Americas in which the Zika virus has been reportedCountries and territories in the Americas in which the Zika virus has been reported
According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch:According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch:
Barbados Barbados Abortion is illegal but permitted in cases of foetal impairment, incest or rape and requires parental authorisation.
Abortion is illegal yet only permitted in cases of foetal impairment, incest, rape and required parental authorisation. Bolivia Abortion is illegal but permitted in cases of rape and incest.
Bolivia
Abortion is illegal and is only permitted in cases of rape and incest.
Related: Zika virus: what travellers need to knowRelated: Zika virus: what travellers need to know
Brazil Brazil Abortion is illegal and carries sentences of between one and 10 years in prison, but is permitted to save the pregnant woman’s life or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
Abortion is illegal with imprisonment between one and 10 years. Under Brazil’s penal code, abortion is only permitted to save the pregnant woman’s life or where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. This limited range of possibilities results in many women resorting to clandestine, unsafe abortions. Colombia Abortion is prohibited in all circumstances, though the penalty is substantially lower where the pregnancy is the result of rape or non-consensual artificial insemination. There are an estimated 450,000 illegal abortions in Colombia each year, and unsafe abortion is a leading cause of maternal mortality, according to Human Rights Watch.
Colombia Dominican Republic Abortion is illegal, with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life.
Colombia’s penal code prohibits abortion in all circumstances, though the penalty is substantially lower where the pregnancy is the result of rape or non-consensual artificial insemination. As a result there are an estimated 450,000 illegal abortions in Colombia every year, with unsafe abortion a leading cause of maternal mortality according to Human Rights Watch. Ecuador Abortion is illegal, punishable by imprisonment for three to six years, but permitted if there is danger to the life or health of the mother, or if pregnancy results from rape.
Dominican Republic El Salvador Abortion is illegal, with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, legislation for exceptions having been abolished.
Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life. French Guiana Abortion is permitted without restriction as to reason.
Ecuador Guadeloupe Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons.
Abortion is illegal with imprisonment for three to six years, yet permitted if there is danger to the life or health of the mother, or if pregnancy results from rape, or in the case of rape committed against a woman with a mental disability. Guatemala Abortion is illegal, punishable with imprisonment for one to three years, with an exception if it is to save the life of the mother.
El Salvador Guyana Abortion is permitted, with an eight-week gestation limit.
Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, with legislation for exceptions having been abolished. Haiti Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life.
French Guiana Honduras Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life.
Abortion is permitted without restriction as to reason. Martinique Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons.
Guadeloupe Mexico Abortion has been a crime in Mexico since at least 1931, and is punishable with three to eight years in prison. Criminal penalties are waived only for abortion after rape where the pregnant woman’s life would be endangered.
Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons.
Guatemala
Abortion is illegal, punishable with imprisonment of one to three years, with an exception if it is to save the life of the mother.
Guyana
Abortion is permitted, with a eight-week gestation limit.
Haiti
Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life.
Honduras
Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life.
Martinique
Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons.
Mexico
Abortion has been a crime in Mexico at least since 1931. Abortion is punishable with three to eight years of prison. Criminal penalties are waived only for abortion after rape where the pregnant woman’s life would be endangered by a continued pregnancy or where the abortion is the result of negligent behaviour on the part of the pregnant woman.
Related: Zika virus likely to spread throughout the Americas, says WHORelated: Zika virus likely to spread throughout the Americas, says WHO
Panama Panama Abortion is illegal, but permitted with parental authorisation in cases of foetal impairment or to save a woman’s life.
Abortion is illegal, but permitted only with parental authorisation in cases of foetal impairment, or to save a woman’s life. Paraguay Abortion is illegal, but permitted in cases to save a woman whose life is in danger.
Paraguay Puerto Rico Under US constitutional law, which applies in Puerto Rico, abortion is permitted provided the foetus is not viable, or if the woman’s health is at risk. However, Puerto Rico also has a criminal statute that prohibits abortions except to protect a woman’s health, punishable by two years’ imprisonment. It is not clear which law supersedes the other.
Abortion is illegal and is only permitted in cases to save a woman whose life is in danger. Saint Martin Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons.
Puerto Rico Suriname Abortion is prohibited with no explicit provision to save a woman if her life is in danger.
Under US constitutional law, which applies in Puerto Rico, abortion is permitted provided the foetus is not viable, or if the woman’s health is at risk. However, Puerto Rico also has a criminal statute on the books which prohibits abortions except to protect a woman’s health, a crime punishable by two years’ imprisonment. It is not clear which law supersedes the other. US Virgin Islands Abortion is prohibited except to protect the health of the pregnant woman or in cases where the foetus would be born with serious physical or mental defects.
Saint Martin Venezuela Abortion is illegal, but permitted if a woman’s life is in danger.
Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons.
Suriname
Abortion is prohibited with no explicit provision to save a woman if her life is in danger.
US Virgin Islands
Abortion is prohibited except to protect the health of the pregnant woman or in cases where the foetus would be born with serious physical or mental defects.
Venezuela
Abortion is illegal but permitted if a woman’s life is in danger.
Countries in the Americas in which the Zika virus has not yet been detectedCountries in the Americas in which the Zika virus has not yet been detected
Argentina Argentina Abortion has been a crime in Argentina since the late 19th century. The current penal code offers two exceptions to punishment: where the pregnant woman’s life or health is in danger, and where the pregnancy is the result of the rape of a woman who has a learning disability.
Abortion has constituted a crime in Argentina since the late 19th century. The current penal code offers only two exceptions to punishment: where the pregnant woman’s life or health is in danger, and where the pregnancy is the result of the rape of a mentally disabled woman. Peru Abortion is illegal, punishable with imprisonment of two years or with community service from 52 to 104 days, unless the pregnancy is the result of rape outside of marriage or when it is likely that the foetus would be born with serious physical or psychological defects.
Peru Chile Abortion has been a crime in Chile since 1874. The country’s penal code, still in force, prohibits abortion in all cases. Any exception where a woman’s health or life was in danger was eliminated by Augusto Pinochet.
Abortion is illegal, punishable with imprisonment of two years or with community service from 52 to 104 days, unless the pregnancy is the result of rape outside of marriage or when it is likely that the foetus would be born with serious physical or psychological defects.
Chile
Abortion has constituted a crime in Chile since 1874. The country’s penal code, still in force, prohibits abortion in all cases. Any exception where a woman’s health or life was in danger was eliminated by Augusto Pinochet.
Related: The Zika virus foreshadows our dystopian climate future | Bill McKibbenRelated: The Zika virus foreshadows our dystopian climate future | Bill McKibben
Cuba Cuba Abortion is legal with parental authorisation.
Abortion is legal with parental authorisation. Nicaragua Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, legislation for exceptions having been abolished.
Nicaragua Costa Rica Abortion is an offence punishable with three to 10 years in prison, with an exception if it is to save life.
Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, with legislation for exceptions having been abolished. Uruguay Abortion is permitted with parental authorisation.
Costa Rica Bahamas Abortion is illegal, except with a provision to preserve health.
Abortion is an offence punishable with three to ten years in prison, with an exception if it is to save life. United States Although abortion is legal in the US, services are not readily accessible. Many women and girls face serious legal or financial obstacles to accessing safe abortion services because of burdensome regulations, lack of providers, insufficient funding or political opposition. Due to the federal system, abortion law is determined at state level.
Uruguay
Abortion is permitted with parental authorisation.
Bahamas
Abortion is illegal, except with a provision to preserve health.
United States
Although abortion is legal in the US, services are not readily accessible. Many women and girls face serious legal or financial obstacles to accessing safe abortion services because of burdensome regulations, lack of providers, insufficient funding, or political opposition. Due to the federal system, abortion law is determined at state level.