Amnesty for abortion PDF Print E-mail
Written by Amina Mohammed   
Wednesday, 22 August 2007

What does a woman do with a pregnancy that is the result of rape?

Last week Amnesty International implemented a new policy where it would support the decriminalization of abortion, to ensure that women have access to healthcare when complications arise from abortion and to defend women’s access to abortion [...] when their health or human rights are in danger.â€

Amnesty International's decision was based on "women's human rights to be free of fear, threat and coercion as they manage all consequences of rape and other grave human rights violationsâ€. In many parts of the world, even where the procedure is illegal, abortions are allowed following a rape or an incestuous relationship. However, what has followed the announcement from Amnesty International has been widespread condemnation by religious and "moral" leaders around the world.

While the Catholic Church condemns violence against women it refuses to acknowledge that a pregnancy through sexual assault, rape and incest are a continuation of the violation of these women's inalienable human rights. This is part of the reason for example why during wars, warring sides have used rape as an act of intimidation against their enemies. The cruelty of rape is quite severe and it is unimaginably cruel to decree that a woman carry to full-term this violation of her most personal space.

It must therefore be made clear, that the Catholic Church's call for its followers to stop supporting Amnesty International is irresponsible. It is important for not just the Catholic Church, but for pro-lifers, to acknowledge that the life of a woman is more sacred than that of an undeveloped fetus.

It goes without saying that abortion is not an easy procedure for all parties involved, however, in instances of violence it is a crucial step on the journey of healing for the woman.


Amina Mohammed
About the author:

Amina is passionate about social justice. She loves to blog, and writes a lot on gender.

She also thinks kI is a great platform, one that allows her to speak out when many times she feels silenced by the rest of the world. 






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God is so dead
written by Tim Norwood , August 22, 2007
Just another day of madness from the religious types. I suppose though that outside of the USA, that land of religious fanatics, most Catholics will reach for the ignore button.

Oh, and Africa too. But then Africans are not likely to be members of Amnesty International are they? At least not the religious ones.
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The wicked Dilemma
written by A Ratzinger follower , August 22, 2007
Amina, thanks for your timely piece recording Amnesty International's eventual embracing of justice. When I saw it last I thought: here come war

Many people wrestle with the moral question of abortion and few find a comforting solution. The Catholic church's position, i.e do nothing....in the desperate circumstances that you mention above..... is not an option.

Sometimes thisPsalm comes to mind
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excuses
written by Mr.Kay , August 22, 2007
These are just more excuses to murder millions more innocent children.

Statistics indicate that very few children are ever conceived from rapes or assaults. So it is more misinformation from pro-abortionists.
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written by Timothy Wainaina , August 22, 2007
There's a neat trick being played here. You see when you couch abortion as a human rights issue, there's a gloved hand there with a metal disc in it, blackmailing everyone into accepting the pro-abortion position as valid. Not one of us you see would like to be seen as a human rights abuser, eh?

Like Mr K I do not think there is sufficient reason to have special regulations for such cases primarily because they are so rare. In addition, I think it will be much better to prepare the mother psychologically for the outcome of the pregnancy rather than augment her torment with an abortion. Many many women do feel terrible after going through with an abortion, which guilt may be the opportunity cost of the loving and healing relationship that may have been the consequence of a full-term birth.
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murder the innocent children
written by Nekessa , August 22, 2007
In that case Mr. Kay you don't have to worry, with your statistics less than millions of innocent children will be murdered.
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Unapologetic Catholic
written by Hon , August 22, 2007
Yes, we protect life, and if its God's will the child will live!

The catholic church is not known to do nothing...it is just an easy target for folks who have nothing better to say.

Long live the church!
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written by Nekessa , August 23, 2007
Yes, Honey, the church is above reproach.
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worthy target church is
written by Fallen , August 23, 2007
I dare any institution no matter how old and how established to tell me how to handle a matter so personal.

True abortion has recently been abused as an elevated form of birth control but the decision whether or not to have one is not the business of any church or legistator. Why should a woman birth a child she doesnt love and doesnt want? Is that not more recepie for mor abused, neglected unloved children in the world?

Jeez! Enough of those already. is the church ready to care for all of them? Past examples speak against that.
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mmh
written by Nduta , August 23, 2007
sometimes back i read an article about this very debate,and the author asked,as we try to justify what is evil to be right it does not make it any less evil?The bible is against abortion,not the catholic church,the bible.Am not pious in the very sense of the word,but i do know this for a fact,that everything happens for a reason and that God does not give you anything that you cant handle.
Back to the issue at hand though,i believe women should be given that choice to either abort or not abort the foetus,as a result of rape.My fear is that,that right may end up being abused by those who just need to abort because it was a 'mistake',we need to have regulations to deal with this.
Where does immorality start,an where does it end
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written by Watetu , August 23, 2007
Yes Mr.Kay, you are right, you are making excuses.

Whatever these 'statistics'may be is it your contention that the women that do conceive from rape or assault do not matter? That their well being is not important because there are not enough of them for their plight to be considered important?
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written by Timothy Wainaina , August 24, 2007
I will continue in my crusade here against abortion. You see there may be a few of us who are in this for the right reasons, but the numbers thing is the crucial question here.
Whereas abortion may have passed into law based on arguments on human rights, or incest, or rape, or even to save the mother's physical and emotional health, or to save a baby from an unwanted existence, the reality is that today abortion permits and encourages an attitude of levity about what is without doubt real human life.

Ogot had an article here some time back on the same topic. Amazing is it not, that if a child is born prematurely we rush to save it, if a pregnant woman's foetus is killed by a blow from an outsider we call it murder, yet somehow we allow, even encourage tens of millions of abortions around the world every year in the name of human rights!
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line them up?
written by Mr.Kay , August 24, 2007
Fallen, there are millions of kids worldwide who are unwanted and unloved, should they all be lined up and shot too?
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written by Marangu , August 27, 2007
It is very easy to even joke about what is a life and death issue. The implications of rape are lifelong much less having living evidence of same, Amina makes this clear in the article. I can only guess that the decision whether to abort or not is a very difficult one for the woman concerned. Abortion itself is a difficult, sometimes traumatic process, there are biopsychosocial effects on the woman and her immediate family.
I wish instead of getting busy taking sides on this debate, we started addressing the many things we (including all churches, temples, mosques etc)could do to help the affected women, this regardless (but with respect) to the choice they have made.
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written by a guest , August 27, 2007
Marangu I second your opinion.

I would love to hear from people who are a product of rape. How does it feel to grow up knowing that one is a product of such barbaric violence. Are there enough resources, especially in Africa, to deal with the inevitable psychological consequences? In many parts of Africa pre-natal care is a dream; how much more post-natal in a rape pregnancy. Absentee fathers are a problem too. How much more an absentee rapist. What about the 10 year old victims of rape? We all know it happens in out continent. I'm sure you've heard of the 6 month old that was raped in Cape Town. Should they also take this as "God's will"? What kind of God would allow such a thing?

Having said all this; I'm not saying abort because the life of that rape child will be difficult. These are my honest questions to children who are products of rape. I trully can't imagine making a decision for another woman/girl on something so personal.
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written by Marangu , August 27, 2007
Anon:
Precisely, and it's not really our place as society, church or whatever , to make a choice for a woman, knowing well only she, alone will deal with the consequences. On this issue, if that is what pro-choice is about, I am for it, and beyond that support those who are affected morally and financially.
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re:
written by Watetu , August 27, 2007
I truly can't imagine making a decision for another woman/girl on something so personal.


Anon: I agree with you. The problem as Marangu pointed out is that the issue of abortion is addressed more as an issue on which you have to pick a side and less as an issue that affects real people on a daily basis.

Just by looking at the comments here, it is clear that to a lot of people it is nothing but a numbers game.

These are just more excuses to murder millions more innocent children.

Statistics indicate that very few children are ever conceived from rapes or assaults. So it is more misinformation from pro-abortionists.


There are many like Mr Wainaina that feel that discussing abortion based on real human facts is
...a neat trick. You see when you couch abortion as a human rights issue, there's a gloved hand there with a metal disc in it, blackmailing everyone into accepting the pro-abortion position as valid. Not one of us you see would like to be seen as a human rights abuser, eh?


Abortion is seen as being synonymous with promiscuity and this is how people vindicate themselves for condeming and judging women that choose to abort.
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written by Hon , August 28, 2007
Nekessa,
The fact that I am drunk with Catholicism does not mean am not a human being! Kwani the church is made of angels? I curse like a sailor, and sin on a daily basis. I only keep asking the good Lord to protect my behind!

The church does not insist on one keeping a product of rape, Catholics offer adoption as an option. In the good book, a prostitute's son went on to be King!

Now, those who think they are much better for aborting, hands up?

Rape is a terrible thing, killing does not make it less painful!

This women should also be allowed counselling before being offered abortion as a first choice. Allow them time, most end up keeping the child.

I am against it because I know women who aborted simply because they did not want the children. Now they want them, they cannot have them. And they suffer very low self-esteem. These are my relatives people...eeei! Actually two are already suffering flushes in their late 20's.

Me thinks abortion kills part of the woman too. All I hear about is: 'I keep wondering who he/she might have turned into'.

With adoption, there is a chance for redemption!
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written by emmo opoti , August 28, 2007
Anyone who wears a badge of intolerance and a disavowal of reality ( drunk with Catholicism) really has no chance of being taken seriously.

Oh, that we would hear a stronger argument than that it is the wish of a Roman crossdresser, defended by irrational hordes with little education in either morality or common decency.
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written by Linda , August 29, 2007
Hon,

I curse like a sailor, and sin on a daily basis. I only keep asking the good Lord to protect my behind!

I take this to mean your weakness are bad but not as bad as abortion post-rape ...according to the "good book"? Does it not also say "let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

You make it sound as though a raped woman can simply carry a pregnancy to term and then someone's loving arms will be there to whisk the baby away into a loving home once it's born. Let's be practical.

The chances of that baby, especially in Africa, growing up in an underfunded orphanage till it comes of age (that is if it doesn't run away to live in the city streets), are much much higher than of it being adopted. Even in the U.S., black children are the hardest to adopt. Adoption is not prevalent in our black communities. Very few of us have Angelina Jolie/Madonna sensibilities and money.

It's hard enough for raped women and children to get over the experience, how much more with a baby as a constant reminder. A reminder that also relies on you for sustenance on a daily basis?

Like I said earlier, I truly can't imagine making a decision for another woman/girl on such a personal matter. How about loving and supporting the woman/girl regardless of what decision they make.

If the women in your family that you speak of had an abortion because they were raped, do you think they're miserable because of it or because of what it's done to them?
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Priorities my people
written by Hon , August 29, 2007
There is a tendency to pick some issues in society that are at the very bottom of crises, then try to magnify them; for the sake of talk?


Like Mr. Kay wondered, how many raped women get pregnant as a result of rape in a given year, before we use it as a reason to legalize abortion? Mnafuta vitu vidogo vidogo to talk about, when there are really bigger huddles for the Kenyan woman.

Linda:
Sweety, when talking about solutions in Africa, think in an African context. There is more adoption in Africa than the west.
Matter of fact, it is much easier to adopt in Africa.
How many kids are raised by uncles, aunts, Grandmas, or even clan members?
Several in this day of AIDS.
What do you call that?
It is adoption too.

To solve issues in Africa needs looking at African alternatives to the Western solutions. Adoption 'Angellina' style in Rarieda is not viable, but people do adopt there too. I hope you do not think onmy Madonna and company can afford adoption.

We get ourselves in a bigger mess when we try the western approaches yet we do not have tools in place to facilitate the same.

Emmo
Yes, am very intolerant of indecisiveness and people who seek justification for wrong.
Granted, we all make mistakes. Get pregnant at unplanned times, happens all the time. There are two approaches. Let someone identify her mistake, learn from it and make better.Asecond chance is in order, infact several other chances. But those that want to escape responsibility I do not tolerate. Next we will be asking govts to setaside money counsell those who are aborting?

So a fetus murderer llike yourself is educated in decency?
You are so naive it hurts!
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ahem
written by Amina , August 29, 2007
A few of you have discussed the rare occurance of pregnancies due to rape/incest. How you know this beats me... . Perhaps you missed the whole point of Amnesty's support of abortion. Unlike many pro-abortionists who support abortion in any event, and many have argued even the use of abortion as a birth control method, Amnesty is clear in its support--- only in the event that the life of the woman or her rights are infringed upon. So it is irrelevant whether 1 woman is pregnant from rape or incest, or 100,000 women.
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Elucidate...
written by Yello , August 29, 2007
...on 'her rights are infringed upon'.

What rights are in this window?
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Rights of a Woman
written by Amina , August 29, 2007
What do you call rape? A woman's right? Or a human right?
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morality not religion
written by emmo opoti , August 30, 2007
I was reading up on Mother Teresa from the other thread, and I found a case where she refused abortion, used her influence to prevent the abortion of the pregancy of a 14 year old girl who had been raped.

Now as to morality. May I start by saying that though not a Christian myself, i find that I am a child of Christian philosophy, the teachings of the figure of Christ, whether a historical reality or a thematic device. These teachings influence me not to presume for myself the knowledge of people's hearts or to prescribe for them what is right or wrong. I cannot take it upon myself to judge whether people who have ealry sex, or who have unprotected sex are morally diminished as I am not able to cast the first stone.

For me, all laws, the ones I would argue for would be aimed at protecting members of society from harm. That is why I would not stand against abortion laws, the cruelty of putting anyone through great psychological distress or putting a child through a life of misery just to satisfy my desire to uphold a meaningless 'right to life' seems to me very unChristian.
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Topsy-turvy
written by Hon , August 30, 2007
Emmo
What of the voiceless child's life you are so willing to extinguish, so you can allow those who have voices to live? A moment of passion comes with responsibility.

We do not have to cast stones, but ought to realize what we are doing is wrong. Wrong is simply wrong. I do not judge anyone, I do wrong all the time. Real growth is in identifying the wrong and getting up stronger, not looking for shortcuts and sympathy.

Rape is violations of one's right I suppose...so given your two options, I'd go with human.
Again what of the unborn child? Does it not count?
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more actions
written by me , September 01, 2007
These are just more excuses for not looking for other methods or ways to prevent the so called abortion.yeah iam not against it but GOK oF kenya need to do more than just passing the bill to allow abortion. can anyone answer me please what is the GOK doing to prevent youth from getting pregnant. i dont think preaching about SI LAZIMA TO DO is what we as youth need to hear we want to hear and see the GOK suporting us by helping us be responisible youths by atleast going back to the drawing board and ask as what we want. about the bill yes it will be passed but how many will be able to pay for it if buying a contraceptive pill is hard knowdays
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Amina, i have been trying to c
written by rene , September 03, 2007
please email me ? This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(re: project for Kenya)
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