SIERRA LEONE: Religious Leaders Oppose Proposed Law Legalizing Abortion

ARCHIVES January 25, 2016 ADMIN

FREE TOWN, JANUARY 22, 2016(CISA) – Religious leaders have opposed the recently passed Bill that legalizes abortion in Sierra Leone.

The leaders met on Thursday 21 January at the national interfaith summit at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Freetown hosted by the Catholic Church which is spearheading the campaign against the proposed abortion law, Vatican Radio reported.

The Safe Abortion Bill 2015 was passed into an act of parliament on December 8; five years after campaigners began lobbying for a review of the current law in existence since 1861 which criminalises abortion.

Shortly after it was passed last month, Christian and Muslim leaders under the umbrella of the Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) paid a visit to President Ernest Bai Koroma to register their disapproval.

On that occasion, the president who had until 6 January to sign it into law promised to send the piece of legislation back to parliament for review.

If it becomes law, the act will allow women to have an abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. After the 12 weeks, it is only allowed in the cases of rape, incest or risk to the health of fetus or mother. Girls under 18 can have an abortion only with the permission of a parent or guardian.

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