Abortion in Vanuatu is severely restricted by criminal law. [1] Abortion is illegal under the provisions of section 117 of the Vanuatu Penal Code, Act No. 17 or 7 August 1981. [2] The code states that any woman who intentionally induces a miscarriage is subject to up to two years' imprisonment. [1] Abortion is illegal in cases of rape, incest, and threats to fetal health. [3] The only allocations for abortion are "for good medical reasons", [4] which a United Nations report interprets as to save the life of the pregnant woman and to preserve her physical and mental health. [5] Section 113 of the code states that "No person shall, when a woman is about to be delivered of the child, prevent the child from being born alive by any act or omission of such a nature that, if the child had been born alive and had, then died..." although the italicized statement is vague about its meaning. [4]
The Vanuatu Family Health Association reports various methods women use for self-induced abortions, including the use of local leaves or bark from a tree. [3] Abortions like this that are outside of the medical system endanger the lives of women, as even an immediate visit to a nearby hospital or clinic may be futile if that medical facility does not have the equipment to repair any damage. [3]
Abortion in Vanuatu is severely restricted by criminal law. [1] Abortion is illegal under the provisions of section 117 of the Vanuatu Penal Code, Act No. 17 or 7 August 1981. [2] The code states that any woman who intentionally induces a miscarriage is subject to up to two years' imprisonment. [1] Abortion is illegal in cases of rape, incest, and threats to fetal health. [3] The only allocations for abortion are "for good medical reasons", [4] which a United Nations report interprets as to save the life of the pregnant woman and to preserve her physical and mental health. [5] Section 113 of the code states that "No person shall, when a woman is about to be delivered of the child, prevent the child from being born alive by any act or omission of such a nature that, if the child had been born alive and had, then died..." although the italicized statement is vague about its meaning. [4]
The Vanuatu Family Health Association reports various methods women use for self-induced abortions, including the use of local leaves or bark from a tree. [3] Abortions like this that are outside of the medical system endanger the lives of women, as even an immediate visit to a nearby hospital or clinic may be futile if that medical facility does not have the equipment to repair any damage. [3]