To,
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development,
Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Chairperson of Rajya Sabha,
Mr. Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha
Dr. Vinay P. Sahasrabuddhe, Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Women & Children
Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committees for Health and Family Welfare
TW: Mention of r*pe, sexual abuse
The Parliament session for Rajya Sabha starts on March 8th and there is something we need to do right now.
In Jan, 2021, a 15-year-old girl with disability lost her life after she was denied the permission to terminate her pregnancy caused by rape.
Kavita’s (name changed) death could have been prevented if she had the option of safe abortion. However, the current Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act doesn’t allow termination of an unwanted pregnancy beyond 20 weeks.
The MTP Amendment Bill 2020 seeks to extend the abortion limit to 24 weeks for certain categories of vulnerable women. It has already been passed in the Lok Sabha and is to be placed in the Rajya Sabha. The MTP Amendment Bill must allow for termination of pregnancy resulting from sexual abuse at any point during the pregnancy.
Often the survivors of sexual abuse get to know of their pregnancy late and they take a much longer time to seek help, given the trauma and stigma, breaching the limits set by the MTP Act. This becomes worse in the case of minors. Being forced to carry a pregnancy resulting out of sexual abuse to term re-traumatizes survivors. It adversely impacts their mental and physical health and as in Kavita’s case, can even result in death. If we act now, we will be able to save the lives of many women and girls.
The government has already taken the step to extend the time limit for termination. Together we should let Rajya Sabha members know that we stand by this move that can save the lives of rape survivors. Let us push Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare to remove the upper gestational limit mentioned in the Bill.
We have seen our Courts being far more considerate in the cases. According to a report, in 158 cases involving sexual abuse, 81% abortion seekers were granted permissions for termination even where the pregnancy was over 20 weeks gestation.
We can push for the amendment to be more inclusive -- we can ensure that survivors have more autonomy over their bodies, especially when their physical and mental health is at stake.
Sources:
Assessing the Judiciary’s Role in Access to Safe Abortion - Pratigya
MTP Act as passed by Lok Sabha - Lok Sabha Website
The abortion law in India is failing the women who need it the most- Scroll.in
Bombay HC permits minor rape victim to terminate 25-week pregnancy- Indian Express
*name changed
To,
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare,
Smt. Smriti Irani, Minister of Women and Child Development,
Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Chairperson of Rajya Sabha,
Mr. Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha
Dr. Vinay P. Sahasrabuddhe, Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee for Women & Children
Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, Chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committees for Health and Family Welfare
TW: Mention of r*pe, sexual abuse
The Parliament session for Rajya Sabha starts on March 8th and there is something we need to do right now.
In Jan, 2021, a 15-year-old girl with disability lost her life after she was denied the permission to terminate her pregnancy caused by rape.
Kavita’s (name changed) death could have been prevented if she had the option of safe abortion. However, the current Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act doesn’t allow termination of an unwanted pregnancy beyond 20 weeks.
The MTP Amendment Bill 2020 seeks to extend the abortion limit to 24 weeks for certain categories of vulnerable women. It has already been passed in the Lok Sabha and is to be placed in the Rajya Sabha. The MTP Amendment Bill must allow for termination of pregnancy resulting from sexual abuse at any point during the pregnancy.
Often the survivors of sexual abuse get to know of their pregnancy late and they take a much longer time to seek help, given the trauma and stigma, breaching the limits set by the MTP Act. This becomes worse in the case of minors. Being forced to carry a pregnancy resulting out of sexual abuse to term re-traumatizes survivors. It adversely impacts their mental and physical health and as in Kavita’s case, can even result in death. If we act now, we will be able to save the lives of many women and girls.
The government has already taken the step to extend the time limit for termination. Together we should let Rajya Sabha members know that we stand by this move that can save the lives of rape survivors. Let us push Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Minister of Health and Family Welfare to remove the upper gestational limit mentioned in the Bill.
We have seen our Courts being far more considerate in the cases. According to a report, in 158 cases involving sexual abuse, 81% abortion seekers were granted permissions for termination even where the pregnancy was over 20 weeks gestation.
We can push for the amendment to be more inclusive -- we can ensure that survivors have more autonomy over their bodies, especially when their physical and mental health is at stake.
Sources:
Assessing the Judiciary’s Role in Access to Safe Abortion - Pratigya
MTP Act as passed by Lok Sabha - Lok Sabha Website
The abortion law in India is failing the women who need it the most- Scroll.in
Bombay HC permits minor rape victim to terminate 25-week pregnancy- Indian Express
*name changed