Cuthbert-Flynn calls on legislators to decriminalise abortion
PARLIAMENTARIAN JULIET Cuthbert-Flynn has moved a motion for the Government to decriminalise abortion and provide women with safe and affordable methods to terminate pregnancy.
“Be it resolved that this Honourable House considers the recommendations of the Abortion Policy Group, which was established to provide guidance to allow women the right to choose, and be it further resolved that the Parliament takes steps to repeal sections 72 and 73 of the Offences against the Person Act,” Cuthbert-Flynn told the House of Representatives yesterday.
The member of parliament for West Rural St Andrew added, “All parliamentarians in this Honourable House have a moral obligation to ensure that women can enjoy their person hood without interference.”
She also referenced a Bill Johnson survey, sponsored by The Gleaner, the Ministry of Health and National Health Fund, in which 67 per cent of men and 82 per cent of women indicated that women have a right to terminate their pregnancy and not the Government. One thousand Jamaicans between the ages 15 and 49 were polled in April.
Cuthbert-Flynn pointed out that the Government ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which mandates that steps should be taken to reduce maternal mortality by tackling contributing factors, such as unsafe abortions.
Currently, any attempt at terminating a pregnancy could result in life imprisonment, but abortion is allowed if the mother’s life is in danger.