Women and Law in Southern Africa Seeks Expansion of Access to Abortion and Post-Abortion Care in Zimbabwe
Ahaki’s LIRA Programme implementing partner in Zimbabwe, Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA), filed a constitutional public interest litigation case to expand legal access to safe abortion and post-abortion care services to minors, adolescent girls, and survivors of marital rape. The case argues that the omission of minors, adolescent girls and survivors of marital rape from the protection of Zimbabwe’s Termination of Pregnancy Act is a violation of their constitutionally guaranteed sexual and reproductive health rights.
The case is predicated on the expansive provisions of Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution, which guarantees reproductive autonomy and every Zimbabwean’s right to access basic healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare services. Under the 1977 Termination of Pregnancy Act, minors, adolescent girls and adult women survivors of sexual assault and marital rape are not entitled to access safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care services. The lawsuit filed by WLSA seeks to align Zimbabwe’s Termination of Pregnancy Act with the provisions of the 2013 Constitution on access to reproductive health and services. To learn more, visit the LIRA Programme in Zimbabwe and WLSA
