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<P>President Ortega Should Show Leadership by Protecting Women's Lives </P>
<P>(Managua, October 2, 2007) – Nicaragua's blanket ban on abortion, which
criminalizes life-saving medical treatment, has had a devastating impact on
women's health and lives, Human Rights Watch said today in the first-ever report
on the human rights consequences of the ban, which was enacted in November 2006.
<BR><BR>The new report, "Over Their Dead Bodies," documents how this ban on
abortion has made women afraid to seek even legal health services. Fearing
prosecution under the new law, doctors are unwilling to provide necessary care.
The report is based on interviews with officials, doctors from the public and
private health systems, women in need of health services, and family members of
women who died as a result of the ban. <BR><BR>"Doctors in Nicaragua are now
afraid to provide even legal health services to pregnant women," said Angela
Heimburger, Americas researcher at Human Rights Watch's Women's Rights Division.
"Some testified that personnel at public hospitals refused women and girls
adequate care after devastating miscarriages, with direct reference to the ban."
<BR><BR>In December, one month after Congress enacted the ban during a hotly
contested presidential election, the Ministry of Health responded by issuing
detailed mandatory protocols on emergency obstetric care, including guidelines
for medical treatment after illegal abortions. Ministry officials admit that
they have received complaints of delay or denial of health services since the
ban was implemented. <BR><BR>However, the report reveals that the President
Daniel Ortega's government so far has not studied the health effects of the ban
on abortion. The government also does not appear to have investigated or
sanctioned health professionals who do not implement the mandatory protocols.
<BR><BR>"President Ortega should immediately help mitigate the disastrous
effects of this ban by prioritizing pregnant women's access to emergency medical
care," said Heimburger. "Nicaragua's president needs to reassure women they will
not be punished for trying to stay alive. At the same time, he should
aggressively promote public awareness and access to services." <BR><BR>Before
this ban, Nicaragua's penal code allowed abortions when a woman's life was at
risk. This new law intentionally denies women access to health services
essential to saving their lives, and is thus inconsistent with Nicaragua's
obligations under international human rights law to ensure women's right to
life. </P>
<P>Human Rights Watch Press release</P>
<P> </P>
<P>HREA - <A href="http://www.hrea.org">www.hrea.org</A><BR><BR>Human Rights
Education Associates (HREA) is an international non-governmental organisation
that supports human rights learning; the training of activists and
professionals; the development of educational materials and programming; and
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