MALDIVES-ABORTION-TBs-CCPR

Concluding Observations on Report 2 (2024) (Link)

Termination of pregnancy, maternal mortality and reproductive rights

23. The Committee is concerned by the prevalence of unsafe abortions and the stigma surrounding reproductive care, leading young people and unmarried women to resort to dangerous health- and life-threatening procedures. The Committee is also concerned about reports of difficulties faced in access to safe abortion, due to medical practitioners refusing to perform abortions as a result of conscientious objection, even under the circumstances permitted by law, and given that abortion is not provided for in health facilities across the whole country (arts. 6, 7 and 8).

24. In the light of the Committee’s general comment No. 36 (2018) on the right to life, the State party should take all measures necessary to ensure that abortion is not regulated in a manner contrary to its duty to ensure that women and girls do not have to undertake unsafe abortions. The State party should in particular:

(a) Take appropriate measures to counter the stigmatization of women seeking abortion-related information and services, including by systematically providing training on sexual and reproductive health rights for medical professionals and implementing education and sexual awareness-raising programmes addressed to women, men and adolescents on the importance of using contraceptives and on sexual and reproductive health rights;

(b) Provide legal, effective, safe, unimpeded and confidential access to abortion for women and girls throughout its territory, including prenatal and post-abortion health care, without discrimination and free from violence and coercion, and refrain from introducing new barriers to sexual and reproductive health services;

(c) Ensure that alleged violations of women’s rights in reproductive health-care settings are promptly and effectively investigated, that perpetrators are prosecuted and, if found guilty, sanctioned commensurate with the seriousness of the offence;

(d) Take all measures necessary to ensure that the exercise of conscientious objection does not impede effective and equal access for women and girls to confidential, legal and safe abortion services and post-abortion care, including by collecting data on and monitoring denials of access to abortion and abortion-related services.

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Concluding Observations on Report 1 (2012) (Link)

[no mention]

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