SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES-ABORTION-TBs-CCPR

Concluding Observations on Report 2 (2019) (Link)

Sexual and reproductive rights and voluntary termination of pregnancy

20. The Committee is concerned about the high rate of teenage pregnancy and the lack of effective access to contraceptive methods for women and girls. The Committee is also concerned at the highly restrictive circumstances under which women can lawfully have an abortion in the State party. In particular, it is concerned at the requirement of approval from two medical practitioners for therapeutic abortions and the socioeconomic barriers imposed by the reportedly high cost of a proper medical procedure. It is concerned that the restrictions in the legislation, as applied in the State party, may compel women and girls to resort to unsafe abortions that place their health, or even their lives, at risk (arts. 2, 3, 6, 7, 17, 24 and 26).

21. The State party should:

(a) Ensure unimpeded access to sexual and reproductive health services and education and appropriate and affordable contraception for men, women and adolescents nationwide;

(b) 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 where the fetus is not viable;

(c) Refrain from denying women and girls effective access to safe and legal abortion services;

(d) Ensure that women and girls who have abortions, as well as the health- care practitioners assisting them, are not subject to criminal sanctions.

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Concluding Observations in the absence of a report (2006) (Link)

[no mention]

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Concluding Observations on Report 1 (1990) (Link)

[no mention]

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