We support the Private Member's Motion which supports the repeal of sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Persons Act, which make abortions illegal and call for members of the Jamaican public to join our voices as we call for an abortion reform in Jamaica so there  can be safe and accessible for people who need them. 

The possibility of being arrested has deterred several medical professionals, though a few continue to stealthily provide the service for persons who need/desire it. Some practitioners and persons with unwanted pregnancies rely on the GoJ’s policy statement on abortion, which ‘permits’ abortions under specific circumstances. However, this policy has no legal standing and even when conditions under the policy are met, the parties are still criminally liable (as evidenced by arrests).

These are our asks:

1. Repeal Sections 72 and 73 of the Offences Against the Person Act.
2. Commission the Ministry of Health to establish and maintain centers with trained personnel to provide surgical and medical termination of pregnancy according to the guidelines outlined by the World Health Organization.
3. Provide appropriate and accessible pre, during and post-abortion care and treatment to women and girls at centers established and maintained by the Ministry of Health and /or non-government organizations.
4. Make services available where women can access termination of pregnancy/abortions upon request where her health and life are not at risk.
5. Launch and support national multi-agency and multi-sectoral public education campaigns aimed at de-stigmatization, with special outreach to the faith-based communities.

What do we want? Why do we want this? Why should you join?

-Jamaican women and girls are dying and being irreparably harmed due to incomplete (botched) abortions. Our maintenance of outdated legislation that ignores the actual, lived realities of thousands of women sends a very clear message of our lack of commitment to their well-being.

-When we continue to deny women the right to the termination of a pregnancy, we continue to ignore a prevailing and alarming public health crisis.

-WE-Change stands in agreement with the Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group’s (2007) and the Partnership for Women's Health and Wellbeing's recommendations that the current act is repealed and replaced with a Civil Law bearing the title, “Termination of Pregnancy Act.”

-Appropriate pre, during, and post-abortion care and treatment should be made available and accessible to women and girls. Healthcare providers should be trained in how to provide pre-abortion care such as ensuring that the woman is, in fact, pregnant, to determining her gestational period so as to infer the method of abortion that is necessary. Pre-abortion care should be made available to women and girls with no regard for age or situation by a trained healthcare provider. The procedure, recovery and any post-abortion or legal information must be explained plainly and in a non-directive manner so that she may understand as well as come to her own informed decision. The Healthcare provider should also provide information and referral for antenatal care to women who decide to carry the pregnancy to term and/ or consider adoption.

WE-Change is of the opinion that the Government of Jamaica needs to demonstrate good faith, respect, and commitment towards protecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls by implementing the proposed amendments, recommendations, and considerations of the Abortion Policy Reform Group (2007) and those suggestions that have been put
forward to the committee that sought to remove the barriers to women and girls’ ability to access their full human rights.

WE urge you to sign this petition for every woman and girl in Jamaica - their lives matter.