Rise in Microcephaly Cases from Zika Virus Revives Battle for Legal Abortion Mario Osava - Inter Press Service
go to original February 10, 2016

Zika virus outbreak sparks abortion debate in Brazil (Euronews)

The Zika virus epidemic and a rise in the number of cases of microcephaly in newborns have revived the debate on legalizing abortion in Brazil. However, the timing is difficult as conservative and religious groups are growing in strength, especially in parliament.

“We are issuing a call to society to hold a rational, generous debate towards a review of the law that criminalizes abortion,” lawyer Silvia Pimentel told IPS.

Pimentel, one of the 23 independent experts who oversee compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), defends the right to abortion in cases of “severe and irreversible birth defects”.

In Brazil, a 1940 law makes abortion illegal with two exceptions: when it is necessary to save the mother’s life or if the pregnancy is the result of rape.

A third exception, in cases of anencephalic fetuses - which have no brain – was legalized in 2012 as the result of a Supreme Court ruling based on the fact that they cannot survive outside the womb.

“This is different – microcephaly is not like anencephaly, in terms of surviving outside the womb; for the anencephalic fetus, the uterus serves as an intensive care unit; many even die before they are born,” said Clair Castilhos, executive secretary of the National Feminist Network for Health and Sexual and Reproductive Rights.

Microcephalic children, who are born with abnormally small heads, often have some degree of mental retardation, but they can survive.

Read the rest at Inter Press Service

Related: CDC Confirms Link Between Zika, Microcephaly in Brazilian Babies Who Died (USA Today)

Related: Biological Weapons Target the Dangerous Zika Virus (Sci-Tech Today)

Related: Catholic Group Urges Pope to Allow Contraception to Fight Zika (Reuters)

IPS is an international communication institution with a global news agency at its core, raising the voices of the South and civil society on issues of development, globalization, human rights and the environment. Check out the website at IPSNews.net

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!