Abortion is inhuman whatever the reason
Dec 18, 2008
I read with disappointment the article titled: “Kadaga Backs Abortion After Rapeâ€, The New Vision, December 9. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament was responding to women lawyers who said abortion should be legalised as demanded by the Maputo Protocol.
By Ambrose Nuwagira
I read with disappointment the article titled: “Kadaga Backs Abortion After Rapeâ€, The New Vision, December 9. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament was responding to women lawyers who said abortion should be legalised as demanded by the Maputo Protocol.
The protocol calls on governments to protect the ‘reproductive rights’ of women by legalising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or foetus.
Abortion, which plainly means the premature expulsion of a foetus, has been portrayed as the most fundamental right in the surge for the emancipation of women in the 21st century.
Despite cultural, legal and religious protests, several arguments have been raised to rationalise its legalisation. Firstly, the biggest argument lies in to the causes, the nature and the effects of pregnancy on the woman. Little has been considered on the other party to be affected—the foetus.
We need to realise that the developing child is innocent, irrespective of the circumstances that led to its being. Abortion makes the innocent being a victim of the circumstance.
Abortion activists have selfishly considered ‘preserving the life’ of the women at the expense of the developing human being.
Secondly, just as death comes at the cessation of a heart beat, life begins at the onset of a heart beat. Biology tells us that the human heart is formed by the 18th day in the womb; meaning that there is a human being growing in the mothers womb.
Since surgical abortions are not usually performed before seven weeks, it means that by the time the mother realises that she is pregnant, the baby’s heart beat has already started.
By the time the abortion is carried out, the foetus has a unique set of finger prints, genetic patterns and other features.
Thirdly, the argument that women are dying because of unsafe abortion — a justification for its legalisation is inconclusive.
There have been many cases where women have died from failed abortions. Others have been negatively affected psychologically thereafter.
Statistics show that the majority of the abortions performed today are done for reasons which are not medical. For instance, a woman may feel it is not the right time to have a baby or that she does not have enough resources to cater for the infant.
Over 75% of induced abortions today are done for elective, non-medical reasons such as these. In the face of all this, we need to rethink this fundamental issue as we fight societal injustice against the female gender.
Just as it is inhuman to treat women as property, it is as well very inhuman to treat unborn babies as property which can be disposed of whenever we feel like.
The Government and civil society organisations ought to implement and strengthen laws protecting women against any inhumane injustices in addition to availing them with support structures, including legal and psychological assistance and medical care.
They should also implement policies that ensure meaningful options for pregnant and parenting women, among others.
No matter the circumstances, abortion is not the solution, for it becomes worthless to dig a pit to fill another pit.
The writer works with the Campus Alliance To Wipe Out AIDS
I read with disappointment the article titled: “Kadaga Backs Abortion After Rapeâ€, The New Vision, December 9. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament was responding to women lawyers who said abortion should be legalised as demanded by the Maputo Protocol.
The protocol calls on governments to protect the ‘reproductive rights’ of women by legalising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or foetus.
Abortion, which plainly means the premature expulsion of a foetus, has been portrayed as the most fundamental right in the surge for the emancipation of women in the 21st century.
Despite cultural, legal and religious protests, several arguments have been raised to rationalise its legalisation. Firstly, the biggest argument lies in to the causes, the nature and the effects of pregnancy on the woman. Little has been considered on the other party to be affected—the foetus.
We need to realise that the developing child is innocent, irrespective of the circumstances that led to its being. Abortion makes the innocent being a victim of the circumstance.
Abortion activists have selfishly considered ‘preserving the life’ of the women at the expense of the developing human being.
Secondly, just as death comes at the cessation of a heart beat, life begins at the onset of a heart beat. Biology tells us that the human heart is formed by the 18th day in the womb; meaning that there is a human being growing in the mothers womb.
Since surgical abortions are not usually performed before seven weeks, it means that by the time the mother realises that she is pregnant, the baby’s heart beat has already started.
By the time the abortion is carried out, the foetus has a unique set of finger prints, genetic patterns and other features.
Thirdly, the argument that women are dying because of unsafe abortion — a justification for its legalisation is inconclusive.
There have been many cases where women have died from failed abortions. Others have been negatively affected psychologically thereafter.
Statistics show that the majority of the abortions performed today are done for reasons which are not medical. For instance, a woman may feel it is not the right time to have a baby or that she does not have enough resources to cater for the infant.
Over 75% of induced abortions today are done for elective, non-medical reasons such as these. In the face of all this, we need to rethink this fundamental issue as we fight societal injustice against the female gender.
Just as it is inhuman to treat women as property, it is as well very inhuman to treat unborn babies as property which can be disposed of whenever we feel like.
The Government and civil society organisations ought to implement and strengthen laws protecting women against any inhumane injustices in addition to availing them with support structures, including legal and psychological assistance and medical care.
They should also implement policies that ensure meaningful options for pregnant and parenting women, among others.
No matter the circumstances, abortion is not the solution, for it becomes worthless to dig a pit to fill another pit.
The writer works with the Campus Alliance To Wipe Out AIDS