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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/29/zika-virus-latin-america-women-abortion
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| Zika virus: the options facing pregnant women across Latin America | Zika virus: the options facing pregnant women across Latin America |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Related: Abortion rights around the world – interactive | Related: Abortion rights around the world – interactive |
| 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. | 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: 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. |
| Countries and territories in the Americas in which the Zika virus has been reported | Countries 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 Abortion is illegal but permitted in cases of foetal impairment, incest or rape and requires parental authorisation. | Barbados Abortion is illegal but permitted in cases of foetal impairment, incest or rape and requires parental authorisation. |
| Bolivia Abortion is illegal but permitted in cases of rape and incest. | Bolivia Abortion is illegal but permitted in cases of rape and incest. |
| Related: Zika virus: what travellers need to know | Related: Zika virus: what travellers need to know |
| 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. | 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. |
| Colombia Abortion is prohibited except where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, where the woman’s life or health is in danger, or where there is life-threatening foetal malformation. 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 Abortion is prohibited except where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, where the woman’s life or health is in danger, or where there is life-threatening foetal malformation. 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. |
| Dominican Republic Abortion is illegal, with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life. | Dominican Republic Abortion is illegal, with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life. |
| 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. | 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. |
| El Salvador Abortion is illegal, with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, legislation for exceptions having been abolished. | El Salvador Abortion is illegal, with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, legislation for exceptions having been abolished. |
| French Guiana Abortion is permitted without restriction as to reason. | French Guiana Abortion is permitted without restriction as to reason. |
| Guadeloupe Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons. | Guadeloupe Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Guyana Abortion is permitted, with an eight-week gestation limit. | Guyana Abortion is permitted, with an eight-week gestation limit. |
| Haiti Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| Panama Abortion is illegal, but permitted with parental authorisation in cases of foetal impairment or to save a woman’s life. | Panama Abortion is illegal, but permitted 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 Abortion is illegal, but permitted in cases to save a woman whose life is in danger. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Related: Zika virus likely to spread throughout the Americas, says WHO | |
| Saint Martin Abortion is allowed within the first 12 weeks of gestation, or later if performed for medical reasons. | Saint Martin 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 detected | Countries in the Americas in which the Zika virus has not yet been detected |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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 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. | 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. |
| Related: The Zika virus foreshadows our dystopian climate future | Bill McKibben | Related: The Zika virus foreshadows our dystopian climate future | Bill McKibben |
| Cuba Abortion is legal with parental authorisation. | Cuba 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 Abortion is illegal with no explicit exception to save a woman’s life, legislation for exceptions having been abolished. |
| Costa Rica Abortion is an offence punishable with three to 10 years in prison, with an exception if it is to save life. | Costa Rica Abortion is an offence punishable with three to 10 years in prison, with an exception if it is to save life. |
| Uruguay Abortion is permitted with parental authorisation. | Uruguay Abortion is permitted with parental authorisation. |
| Bahamas Abortion is illegal, except with a provision to preserve health. | 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. | 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. |