BAHRAIN-ABORTION-TBs-CCPR

Concluding Observations on Report 1 (2018) (Link)

Voluntary termination of pregnancy and sexual and reproductive health

27. The Committee is concerned that articles 321 to 323 of the Criminal Code criminalize abortion except in the event of grave danger to the life of the woman. While noting the State party’s assertion that judges may authorize abortion on a case-by-case basis, the Committee is concerned that women may resort to unsafe abortions, which put their lives and health at risk (arts. 3, 6, 7, 17 and 26).

28. The State party should amend its legislation with a view to ensuring effective access to safe, legal abortion when the life or health of a pregnant woman or girl is at risk and when carrying a pregnancy to term would cause the woman or girl substantial pain or suffering, most notably when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or when it is not viable. It should also ensure that women and girls who have recourse to abortion and the doctors who attend to them are not subject to criminal penalties, since such measures compel women and girls to resort to unsafe abortion. The State party should, furthermore, implement educational policies to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health among women, men and adolescents and ensure access to appropriate and affordable contraception and reproductive health services.

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