Estimating abortion incidence and unintended pregnancy. Constitution of zimbabwe and the right to abortion 20 3. Amended by choice on termination of pregnancy amendment act 1 of 2008 from 18 feb 2008. Final papers from the 2017 national symposium on the promise of the declaration of rights under the constitution of zimbabwe combined pdf foreign investment, indigenous communities and the constitutional protection of property rights.
No place for abortion in african traditional life some. The government was fully aware of this attitude when they forced the members of the african national congress anc to vote against their consciences in support of termination of pregnancy. The duration and the date of termination are provided in case of casual work or seasonal work or for the performance of specific service. Act 651 3 labour act, 2003 part vii employment of young persons 58. Feature perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women seeking postabortion care in zimbabwe m catherine maternowska,a alexio mashu,b precious moyo,c mellissa withers,d tsungai chipatoe a scholar, bixby center for global reproductive health, university of. According to the termination of pregnancy act, only a. Crlp and women in law and development in africa wildaf, zimbabwe. Health care providers perceptions of and attitudes. An act to change the law relating to abortion by defining the circumstances in which a pregnancy may be terminated and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing. The choice on termination of pregnancy act in south africa was changed in 1997, providing abortion on demand to any woman of any age if she was less than 20 weeks pregnant, with no reasons required. These gaps in zimbabwe s family planning program leave women at risk of experiencing an unintended pregnancy and abortion, but very little is known about the incidence of abortion or unintended pregnancy in the country. Perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women.
Case note on the case of mapingure v minister of home. Download a pdf copy of termination of pregnancy act, acts 291977, 62000, 82001, 222001, 1977 in english. The abortion ratio is an indicator of the likelihood of a pregnancy ending in abortion rather than a live birth. Prevention of sexual exploitation of young persons and intellectually handicapped persons outside zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has a restrictive abortion law, with legal abortion limited to. Sample forms can be downloaded from the department of health website via the. An analysis of the criminal law codification and reform act chapter 9.
When negotiations for the adoption of a new constitution for zimbabwe began, advocates for womenas reproductive health and rights fought hard to have abortion declared legal. This act may be cited as the termination of pregnancy act. Final papers from the 2017 national symposium on the promise of the declaration of rights under the constitution of zimbabwe combined pdf. Maternity protection an employer shall not dismiss a female employee who has been confirmed pregnant and has served a notice of pregnancy. Abortion in zimbabwe is illegal as provided for under the termination of pregnancy act of 1977 chapter 15. The law permits abortion if the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman or threatens to permanently impair her physical health, if the child may be born with serious physical or mental defects, or if the fetus was. Zimbabwes abortion provisions center for reproductive. The law on abortion in zimbabwe abortion in zimbabwe is illegal as provided for under the termination of pregnancy act of 1977 chapter 15. Page 2 of 6 facility means a place designated by the minister in terms of section 3 of the act where the termination of a pregnancy may take place. Labour act, 2003 ministry of employment and labour relations. An employer shall not dismiss an employee under the following circumstances.
The termination of pregnancy act of 1972 permits an abortion to be performed if three registered medical practitioners are of the opinion formed in good faith that a continuation of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life or of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman, or of injury to the physical or mental health of any. Section 1, 3, 710 amended by criminal law sexual offences and related matters amendment act 32 of 2007 from 16 dec 2007. Termination of pregnancy act, acts 291977, 62000, 82001, 222001, 1977. Part i preliminary 1 short title this act may be cited as the sexual offences act chapter 9. However, nurses and midwives from south africa, which has a more liberal abortion law, concluded that if women had the right to make choices regarding the termination of their pregnancy, health personnel should have the right to choose whether to work in abortion clinics 27,36,53,56. Design we used a variant of the abortion incidence complications methodology, an indirect estimation approach, to estimate agespecific abortion incidence. Supplement to the zimbabwean government gazette extraordinary dated the 19th october, 2018. Zimbabwe has a restrictive abortion law, with legal abortion limited to circumstances of rape, incest, fetal impairment, or.
Mpelect ruth labode has called on the health ministry to relook the termination of pregnancy act with a view to expanding its scope so. The mtp act allows for termination of pregnancy up to 12 weeks with the approval of one medical practitioner, and beyond 12 weeks to 20 weeks with the approval of two registered medical practitioners, who are of the opinion, in good faith, that the continuance of pregnancy will cause grave injury to the physical or mental wellbeing of the. Notice and severance notice requirement a contract of employment terminates in the manner stated in the contract of employment or in any other manner as stated in the employment code act, except that where an employer terminates the contract, the employer must give reasons to the employee for the termination of the employees contract of. The analysis undertaken provides a comparison between the namibian abortion and sterilization act 2 of 1975 and the south african choice on termination of pregnancy act 92 of 1996. Pdf reducing unplanned pregnancy and abortion in zimbabwe. Guidance note for completing the hsa1 and hsa2 abortion. When negotiations for the adoption of a new constitution for zimbabwe began, advocates for womens reproductive health and rights fought hard to have abortion declared legal. Generally speaking, abortion in zimbabwe has been illegal as provided for in the termination of pregnancy act of 1977. Zambia has a termination of pregnancy act that does not define termination of pregnancy, but instead refers directly to abortion throughout the act. The termination of pregnancy as defined in the act refers to the termination of a pregnancy in any way except with the intention of delivering a live child.
Under the termination of pregnancy act, abortion is permitted only in the following circumstances. Enacted by the president and the parliament of zimbabwe. The right to termination of pregnancy in zimbabwe the termination of pregnancy act ch. But even those who support the legalisation of abortion in zimbabwe, are watching the situation across the border, in south africa, very carefully. The law expanded abortion access, permitting it under three circumstances. The main sources of employment law are the constitution of zimbabwe 20, the labour act chapter 28. The biggest survey ever done amongst doctors showed that more than 80% of south african doctors are against abortion on demand. Termination of pregnancy act of 1977 zimbabwe, chapter 15. Interpretation part viii fair and unfair termination of employment 62. Zimbabwe, the definition of termination of pregnancy in the ctop act does not refer to abortions or to procuring or inducing a miscar riage. Notice of resignation, termination in zambia severance.
Objective to estimate agespecific abortion incidence and unintended pregnancy in zimbabwe, and to examine differences among adolescents by marital status and residence. Abortions are only allowed in zimbabwe if a womans life is in danger, if there is a risk that the child will be seriously handicapped or if the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. Understanding unsafe abortions among young women in. Expand termination of pregnancy act newsday zimbabwe. Prevention of conspiracy or incitement abroad to exploit young persons or intellectually handicapped persons in zimbabwe. Termination of pregnancy act national assembly of zambia. Summary 21 chapter 4 engaging with the social working of the law. Abortion regulation in zambia abortion is regulated by the termination of pregnancy act of chapter 26 of 1972 and chapter of 1994 of the revised act in zambia 11. Assignment of functions minister of health and child care notice, 2018, published in statutory instrument 102 of 2018, is hereby repealed.
Enacted in 1977 by the parliament of rhodesia and effective starting 1 january. Age of consent and surrounding issues have been perennially topical in zimbabwe. Paid sick leave an employer shall not dismiss an employee whilst the. Extramarital sexual intercourse or immoral or indecent act committed with intellectually handicapped person. Form 1 shall be submitted in duplicate by the medical practitioner or registered midwife who is performing the termination of a pregnancy in terms of section 21a or b of the act to the person in charge of a facility or the person designated for such purpose. If abortion is against the personal moral, ethical, and religious values of the nurse, the nurse has right to refuse to participate in a voluntary termination of pregnancy, except in an emergency situation, where the patients needs do not allow for substitution and should not be ubjected to coercion, censure or discipline for reasons of such. Circumstances in which pregnancy may be terminated. No person may terminate a pregnancy otherwise than in accordance with this act. The termination of pregnancy act is a law in zimbabwe governing abortion. Choice on termination of pregnancy act south african. The employment contract that does not specify its duration and or date of termination is a contract concluded for an indefinite period. Access to adolescent sexual and reproductive health, rising levels of teen pregnancies and the alltime high illegal termination of pregnancies involving minors, the high levels of sexual abuse, and the thorny issue of child marriages have all contributed to this.
Subject to this act, a pregnancy may be terminated. Reducing unplanned pregnancy and abortion in zimbabwe though postabortion contraception article pdf available in studies in family planning 332. Can the consent provisions in the choice on termination of. Sc judgment on mtp act accommodates mental, physical.
Enacted in 1977 by the parliament of rhodesia and effective starting 1 january 1978, it was retained after zimbabwe s independence in 1980. This guidance is intended to help doctors and clinic staff in completing the hsa1 and hsa2 abortion forms. Statutory restrictions on termination of employment contract. Zimbabwe s current abortion law, the termination of pregnancy act, was enacted by rhodesias white minority government in 1977. Guidance note for completing the hsa1 and hsa2 abortion forms.
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