Nov 21 - ‘Women Help Women’ Urges Gibraltar Government To Establish “Professional And Accessible” Abortion Services
Women Help Women (WHW), an international organization that provides information and support to women around the world who face unwanted pregnancies, has urged the Gibraltar Government to establish “professional and accessible abortion services.”
WHW has also expressed its concerns about the legislation proposed in the Command Paper on abortion which is currently out for consultation. The organization says a woman should not be required to go through a “waiting period” when she decides to have an abortion because this implies that she is not a competent decision maker.
A statement from Kinga Jelinska, their Executive Director, continued: “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights describes the family as the natural and fundamental unit of society. It follows that any choice and decision with regard to the size of the family must inevitably rest with the family itself, and cannot be made by anyone else. The right to decide when and if to become a parent is a human right and this right should be enshrined in the laws of every country.
“England, Scotland and Wales have ensured access to legal abortion through the National Health Service since 1967. Unfortunately, Gibraltar's laws do not provide access to abortion care, and women are unnecessarily burdened with having to travel to England or other countries which causes delays in service, stress, financial hardship and a lack of local follow up health care.
“We would also like to express our concerns with some parts of the proposed new regulations, which interfere with the rights of women to be equal citizens.
“If a woman decides that abortion is the best option for an unplanned pregnancy, she should not be required to go through a "waiting period". What comparable procedure requires men to delay needed medical care while they consider their options? The concept of a waiting period implies that women are not competent moral decision makers able to make their own healthcare decisions.
“If a woman decides that abortion is the best option for her, she should not require two medical professionals to approve her decision. Whether she obtains care from her GP or a clinic, the process should be a straightforward one.
“Abortion should be available through the second trimester without forcing women to defend the reason for their decision. Women make decisions about pregnancy and abortion carefully. No one should have to plead sexual assault, trauma or rape, for example, as a reason. Economic issues, the needs of children a woman already supports, pre-existing mental or physical health issues are all reasons that a woman might need to end an unwanted pregnancy
“We hope that the Gibraltar will establish professional and accessible abortion services for the women of your country.”
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