Resumen : Abortion is not a modern aberration, but a practice common to human communities throughout history. Historically, early abortion was tolerated by the Church, and for centuries it was not punished under English common law. Nations which have passed abortion laws have done so for a variety of reasons, such as concern for women's health, the demands of the medical profession, demographic fears, religious beliefs, etc. Restrictive abortion legislation does not lead to a low abortion rate. The data from Romania when it prohibited abortion, from Italy before its liberalized abortion law, and from Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and other developing countries show that the abortion rate is high in countries in which abortion is illegal. Whether legal or not, every year millions of individual women around the world- of all cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds- seek out abortion when they cannot carry a pregnancy to term. History has proved that laws do not stop abortion. It is the number of maternal injuries and deaths, not abortions, that is most affected by restrictive legal codes. Abortions performed outside the law have a higher rate of complications and deaths, the majority of which are entirely preventable. Worldwide, more than one third of the estimated 50 million annual abortions are illegal abortions, occurring mainly in the developing world. Researchers estimate that 70,000 to 200,000 women a year around the world die from illegal and unsafe abortions. Doing away with such purposeless human suffering has been one of the main motives behind the movement to liberalize abortion laws the world over. At present almost two thirds of the world's women live in countries where abortion may be legally obtained for a broad range of social, economic or personal reasons. When abortion is made legal, available and safe, women's reproductive health improves. Abortion-related mortality is reduced by at least 25% and related illness by far more.199 Where abortions are safe and affordable, by far the largest percentage of women terminate their pregnancies within the first trimester. When women can avoid births which are unwanted, mistimed, or too numerous, their children are more likely to survive and be healthy.200 The incidence of infanticide and child abandonment typically go down when abortion is legalized. Even in countries where the abortion law seems "liberal", it cannot be assumed that every woman has an equal chance of getting an early, safe abortion if she needs one. Lack of medical facilities or personnel, women's low status in society, cultural taboos, restrictive regulations and financial roadblocks can effectively curtail access to legal abortion and contraception, especially for disadvantaged and young, unmarried women. Changes in laws, while necessary, are not themselves sufficient for widespread access to family planning and safe abortion services. It has long been recognized that the number of abortions can be effectively reduced by educating people on human sexuality and family planning, and making safe, appropriate and effective contraception available. Empowering women in society, as well as involving men more in reproductive issues, are also important to reducing the rate of unwanted pregnancy and hence abortion.Even in countries where the abortion law seems "liberal", it cannot be assumed that every woman has an equal chance of getting an early, safe abortion if she needs one. Lack of medical facilities or personnel, women's low status in society, cultural taboos, restrictive regulations and financial roadblocks can effectively curtail access to legal abortion and contraception, especially for disadvantaged and young, unmarried women. Changes in laws, while necessary, are not themselves sufficient for widespread access to family planning and safe abortion services.201At the September, 1994 U.N. International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, representatives from over 180 nations met and developed the ICPD Programme of Action, which had this to say about abortion:"All Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are urged to strengthen their commitment to women's health, to deal with the health impact of unsafe abortion as a major public health concern and to reduce the recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family planning services."It has long been recognized that the number of abortions can be effectively reduced by educating people on human sexuality and family planning, and making safe, appropriate and effective contraception available.202 Empowering women in society, as well as involving men more in reproductive issues, are also important to reducing the rate of unwanted pregnancy and hence abortion.
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