BELIZE-ABORTION-TBs-CCPR

Concluding Observations on Report 1 (2018) (Link)

Voluntary termination of pregnancy and maternal mortality

20. The Committee is concerned that section 112 of the Criminal Code criminalizes voluntary termination of pregnancy except when two medical practitioners certify that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of, or injury to, the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or when there are risks that the child will be born with “abnormalities”. It is concerned that the restrictions in this legislation, as applied in the State party, compel women and girls to resort to unsafe abortions that place their lives and health at risk. It regrets the lack of information from the State party regarding the level of maternal mortality relating to unsafe abortion and the measures taken reduce such mortality (arts. 3, 6, 7, 17, 24 and 26).

21. The State party should: (a) review its legislation to ensure safe, legal and effective access to abortion where the life and health of the pregnant woman or girl is at risk and where carrying a pregnancy to term would cause the pregnant woman or girl substantial pain or suffering, most notably where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or is not viable; (b) remove barriers, such as approval by two physicians, that deny effective access by women and girls to safe and legal abortion; (c) ensure that women and girls who have abortions, as well as the physicians assisting them, are not subjected to criminal sanctions as such sanctions compel women and girls to resort to unsafe abortions; and (c) ensure unimpeded access to sexual and reproductive health services and education and contraception for men, women and adolescents nationwide.

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Concluding Observations in the absence of a report (2013) (Link)

[no mention]

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