The Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Care Bill of 2024, which was tabled in June 2024, would legalize abortion up to 14 weeks for any reason and up to birth for specific reasons. It states that “‘termination of pregnancy’ means a procedure or process of ending a pregnancy”. The proposed law talks about “Safe termination of pregnancy services where –
(i) The age of the pregnancy is 14 weeks or less,
(ii) The continued pregnancy would endanger the life of a pregnant woman or adolescent girl;
(iii) The termination of pregnancy is necessary to prevent injury to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman or adolescent girl;
(iv) There is malformation of the fetus which will affect its viability or incompatibility with life; or
(v) The pregnancy is a result of sexual penetration, rape or incest;
(vi) Prevention and treatment of complications of unsafe termination of pregnancy; and
(vii) Obstetric fistula.
The Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone opposed the draft bill, noting that the bill “gravely” contradicts religious teachings in the country and is “a violation of the sanctity of life as protected by existing Sierra Leonean laws”. SOURCE: https://www.aciafrica.org/news/13501/clearly-forbidden-religious-leaders-in-sierra-leone-oppose-government-plan-to-legalize-abortion
On 16 June 2024, the Ministry of Health engaged women MPs on safe motherhood. The following is the text of the press release announcing the bill:
The Ministry of Health on Saturday 15/06/2024 at the Freetown City Council Auditorium engaged female Members of Parliament on its proposed law on safe motherhood and reproductive health care for women in the Republic of Sierra Leone. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Sartie Kenneh said the Ministry of Health is charged with the responsibility to improve the health of the people of Sierra Leone. He also spoke on the reduction of infant mortality rate in the country and some of the challenges associated to childbirth including still births and that abortion is currently illegal in the country, even in circumstances where it may be prudent to do so in order to save lives. Given religious sensitivity, he spoke on the need of where abortion could be done to save lives of women and also prevent the development of complicated pregnancies and ensure reasonable measures are taken in respect of preventable deaths. Country Director of Marie Stopes, Mohamed Kabba said that we should make sure we have a country where women have rights to choose what happens to their bodies. Speaking on the consequences of unsafe abortions, he appealed to MPs to vote in favour of the Bill when it is presented to Parliament.
Chairperson of female MPs in ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Veronica K Sesay recalled the challenges encountered by the Safe Abortion Bill which did not see the light of day. Speaking on the necessity of safe motherhood and treatment centers for women, she said abortion when legalized would take care of complicated pregnancies and the development of deformed foetus. Citing increased representation of women in Parliament, she called for intensive sensitization and that once the content of the Bill is understood, Parliament would now take a decision to improve the health of women in the country. President of the female caucus in Parliament and Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Hon. Bernadette Wuyatta Songa recalled a pregnant woman seeking a job a few days ago had died while giving birth to her baby. Speaking on the necessity of safe motherhood and delivery, she said abortion could be necessary in certain situations to save lives. She also spoke on the need for continuous education on the Bill for the survival, growth and development of women and children in Sierra Leone. She also recognized the fact of engaging the female MPs first for proper education before the pre legislative hearings in Parliament.
The Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby said several years ago, Sierra Leone had the highest mortality rate in the world, but that ugly situation had been turned around due to collective efforts and the country is now enjoying the fastest decline of infant mortality rate, adding 23% of women dying are teenagers. He said that figure is appalling and unacceptable for our children to die from preventable deaths. He also said that the Bill is seeking to enhance preventable deaths and address issues surrounding unwanted pregnancies. He also spoke on the need for radical inclusion for pregnant school going children, counseling and assistance unto safe delivery, but that the child should also be given the choice to keep the pregnancy or not. Let us support a safe delivery method than otherwise, he stated. He also said that 82% of illegal abortions resulted in complications.
Presentations were done on sexual and reproductive health situations in Sierra Leone and the structure and content of the Bill.
Questions and answers climaxed the day’s engagement in light of improving the lives of women and children in Sierra Leone.
Parliamentary and Public Relations Department Parliament of Sierra Leone +23278495023/+23278426851/+23278697776/+23278032986
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This was not the first time the government of Sierra Leone had sought to legalise safe abortion in the country. The first time was in 2016 when President Ernest Bai Koroma initially supported but then bowing to pressure from religious leaders, he refused to sign off on the Safe Abortion Act, passed by the country’s parliament almost unanimously, not once but twice. The new law would have allowed abortion on request up to 12 weeks, and up to 24 weeks in cases of incest, rape, fetal impairment or when the woman’s health is at risk. SOURCE: ICWRSA Newsletter, 18 April 2016.
Also on 18 April 2016, the Youth Partnership for Peace and Development in Sierra Leone produced a one minute video with a plea to the president to sign the bill. You can still watch it today, and you might even recognize some of the people who appear in it! When President Koroma refused to sign the bill, there were calls for it to be put to a referendum in order for it to become law, but in July 2016 that failed too. The Women’s Media Centre reported the end of these efforts. SOURCE: ICWRSA Newsletter, 4 May 2017.
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