Morocco Advances Bill to Legalize Abortion in Cases of Rape, Incest, and Health Risks

The wait has been long but the pro-government parliamentary groups have been able to make concessions on the amendments made to the draft law amending the penal code. The members of the commission of justice and legislation also managed to iron out their differences on the articles relating to the legalization of abortion and the penalization of enrichment.

Even if abortion will not be punishable if the pregnancy occurs following a rape or incest, it would nevertheless be necessary for the termination to be performed by a doctor practicing in a public hospital or an approved clinic. And before carrying out such an operation, the victim must present a certificate of the opening of legal proceedings issued by the Attorney General of the King and validating the complaint after investigation. And that’s not all. The doctor requested will have to inform the delegate of the Ministry of Health in the province or prefecture, before any intervention. The pregnant woman will also have to be informed by the doctor or the social worker of the legal possibilities offered to her for the care of the child, as well as the risks of this operation, reports le360.

This partial liberalization of abortion is well framed by provisions that force the woman to provide an unassailable document proving that she has the right to benefit from a termination of pregnancy. For example, after the 12th week, the provisions of the draft law provide that abortion should not be practiced. The draft law requires that the public hospital and the mandated clinics keep a register duly signed by the prosecutor of the king near the court of first instance, specifies the same source.