RESUMO
PIP: This article relates the case of two young girls who became pregnant as a result of rape and their efforts to exercise their rights to terminate the pregnancy. The first victim was a 12-year-old girl from Bolivia and the second was Paulina, a 13-year-old resident of Baja California, Mexico. Though abortion is illegal in both countries, in the case of rape the procedure is "unpunishable" in Bolivia and legal in Mexico. Despite these laws, the girls, their families and their advocates contend repeatedly with local government and Catholic Church officials on the issue. Only the first victim successfully exercised her right to terminate her pregnancy through the efforts of her family and the decision of Penal Judge Luis Ledezma. This paper also highlights the need for reforms in the abortion law in both countries.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Legislação como Assunto , Estupro , Mulheres , América , Bolívia , Crime , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , México , América do Norte , Problemas Sociais , América do SulRESUMO
PIP: The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy reports on the recent amendment of the Constitution to recognize life from the moment of conception. Researcher Soledad Varela discovered that the Catholic Church in El Salvador had been actively engaged in manipulative tactics to sway an already conservative legislature into passing the extreme laws. Although some legislators were in favor of this amendment, some believe that the reform was wrong and that therapeutic abortions and terminations of pregnancies resulting from rape should not be penalized. Restrictive abortion laws did not stop abortions from occurring; in fact, the UN estimated that 35% of all pregnancies in Chile end in illegal abortions. With the new restrictions, mothers are abandoning unwanted newborns. Illegal practitioners have become harder to trace. Nevertheless, others seem to be successful at evading the law. The wealthy have the right to choose and still avail themselves of legal, more liberal abortion laws from other countries.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Catolicismo , Constituição e Estatutos , Legislação como Assunto , Pesquisa , América , América Central , Cristianismo , Países em Desenvolvimento , El Salvador , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , América do Norte , ReligiãoRESUMO
PIP: This article reports the nonapplication of Article 266 in the case of an 11-year-old pregnant girl in Bolivia. Article 266, is a policy on unpunishable abortion. It explicitly states that in extreme cases of pregnancy, such as the consequence of rape, abduction for sexual purposes not followed by marriage, statutory rape, or incest, abortions are not punishable by law. In the case of a developmentally disabled girl in Santa Cruz, who was raped by her stepfather and became pregnant, she was denied the choice of aborting the baby despite the order of the juvenile court judge. This was because the doctors of certain hospitals in the city refused to perform the act and leaders of the Catholic Church and conservative groups opposed the abortion. However, abortion could have been pushed through if the justice system upheld Article 266. In addition, problems in the said article are cited. The article is not sufficient for enforcement as it lacks legislation, which subsequently leaves the rights of women at the mercy of police, doctors, and judges. Although women's rights groups have presented a revised version of Article 266, it still needs the approval of the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and finally the president of the Bolivian Congress.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Legislação como Assunto , Gravidez , Estupro , Pesquisa , Mulheres , Adolescente , Fatores Etários , América , Bolívia , Criança , Crime , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , População , Características da População , Reprodução , Problemas Sociais , América do SulRESUMO
PIP: At February's Cairo+5 proceedings at the Hague, the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy (CRLP) called a press conference to discuss changes in abortion laws around the world since the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. According to the director of CRLP's International Program, 9 countries have modified their abortion laws since Cairo. Of those, 7 liberalized their laws, while Poland and El Salvador further restricted legislation. The CRLP supports the liberalization of abortion laws for all women in all countries. Abortion law has been liberalized in South Africa since Cairo, with the enactment in 1997 of the Termination of Pregnancy Act. In contrast, however, anti-choice groups in Poland successfully challenged the legality of abortion in 1996 by declaring it against the Polish Constitution. Abortion is prohibited in Chile in all circumstances, even to save the life of the woman. However, despite the illegality of abortion in that country, half of all pregnancies in Chile end in abortion. Unsafe abortion contributes to the 50% maternal mortality rate in Nepal. Abortion in the country is punishable by a 20-year prison sentence, regardless of the age of the woman.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Legislação como Assunto , África , África Subsaariana , África Austral , América , Ásia , América Central , Chile , Países Desenvolvidos , Países em Desenvolvimento , El Salvador , Europa (Continente) , Europa Oriental , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , Nepal , América do Norte , Polônia , África do Sul , América do SulRESUMO
PIP: With the support of the Republican leadership of the US House of Representatives, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey continues to attempt to limit provision of US family planning (FP) funding to foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) who agree to enforce absolute prohibitions on engaging in abortion-related activities. Despite the fact that the House is withholding funds to meet US obligations to the UN and to support the International Monetary Fund, US President Clinton refuses to give in to pressure to enforce what amounts to a "gag rule." The Secretary of State explains that Clinton has no intention of punishing organizations engaging in free-speech protected democratic activities in foreign countries. Smith has offered a self-styled "compromise" that would allow Clinton to waive disqualification for a foreign NGO offering abortion services with its own funds in compliance with the laws of its country. This waiver would penalize the international FP program by $44 million and would not apply to the broad prohibitions against abortion lobbying (including lobbying for changes in laws, sponsoring conferences and workshops on "alleged" defects in abortion laws, and drafting and distributing materials or public statements on "alleged defects"). Smith's emphasis on the "lobbying" ban has widened the issue from a debate on abortion to a debate on democracy and free speech. Opposition to Smith's proposal is, thus, rising in many quarters. Smith also endorses withholding US contributions to the UN Population Fund because the fund has resumed work in China.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Administração Financeira , Planejamento em Saúde , Cooperação Internacional , Legislação como Assunto , Política , América , Países Desenvolvidos , Economia , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América do Norte , Estados UnidosRESUMO
PIP: In the conviction that abortion is a fundamental right of women and that its illegal practice constitutes a serious threat to life, several Latin American women's groups have united to work for decriminalization. The groups have been attempting to increase public awareness of the consequences of illegal abortion. Official silence on the topic appears to deny the existence of a problem. Proposals in the different Latin American countries are adapted to their political and legal circumstances. In Argentina, a campaign has been underway for nearly two years to collect signatures for a petition for a law concerning contraception and abortion. The National Network for Women's Health and other groups have held regional and national workshops on the issue. In Bolivia, radio and television programs have been broadcast in Spanish and indigenous languages on the right to choose, reproductive health, and sex education. Abortion was debated in Brazil during the process of constitutional reform, but it remains illegal. Illegal abortion continues to be a reality and women's groups are lobbying for decriminalization. Abortion is considered a crime in Colombia's penal code. Attempts to legalize abortion have been rejected by the legislature without debate. The practice of abortion under the circumstances has become a lucrative business whose lack of regulation has resulted in a growing number of maternal deaths. Attempts are underway in Costa Rica to legalize abortion in cases of rape or incest. Studies show that illegal abortion is the third most important cause of maternal death. A bill to legalize abortion is under study in Chile's Parliament but has not been approved. Abortion is illegal but common in Ecuador. Efforts are underway in Mexico and Nicaragua to encourage debate on abortion. Peru's Health Commission was recently prevented from classifying abortion for any reason other than grave congenital anomaly as homicide. Abortion has been legal in Puerto Rico since 1974, but amendments and laws to limit this right are under study. A bill to legalize abortion is under study in Venezuela and is being promoted by feminist groups.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Legislação como Assunto , Opinião Pública , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , PolíticaRESUMO
PIP: This Act replaces Article 119 of the Chile Health Code with the following language: "No action may be executed that has as its goal the inducement of abortion."^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Criminoso , Aborto Induzido , Legislação como Assunto , América , Chile , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , América do SulRESUMO
Article 162 of this Mexican Code provides, among other things, that "Every person has the right freely, responsibly, and in an informed fashion to determine the number and spacing of his or her children." When a marriage is involved, this right is to be observed by the spouses "in agreement with each other." The civil codes of the following states contain the same provisions: 1) Baja California (Art. 159 of the Civil Code of 28 April 1972 as revised in Decree No. 167 of 31 January 1974); 2) Morelos (Art. 255 of the Civil Code of 26 September 1949 as revised in Decree No. 135 of 29 December 1981); 3) Queretaro (Art. 162 of the Civil Code of 29 December 1950 as revised in the Act of 9 January 1981); 4) San Luis Potosi (Art. 147 of the Civil Code of 24 March 1946 as revised in 13 June 1978); Sinaloa (Art. 162 of the Civil Code of 18 June 1940 as revised in Decree No. 28 of 14 October 1975); 5) Tamaulipas (Art. 146 of the Civil Code of 21 November 1960 as revised in Decree No. 20 of 30 April 1975); 6) Veracruz-Llave (Art. 98 of the Civil Code of 1 September 1932 as revised in the Act of 30 December 1975); and 7) Zacatecas (Art. 253 of the Civil Code of 9 February 1965 as revised in Decree No. 104 of 13 August 1975). The Civil Codes of Puebla and Tlaxcala provide for this right only in the context of marriage with the spouses in agreement. See Art. 317 of the Civil Code of Puebla of 15 April 1985 and Article 52 of the Civil Code of Tlaxcala of 31 August 1976 as revised in Decree No. 23 of 2 April 1984. The Family Code of Hidalgo requires as a formality of marriage a certification that the spouses are aware of methods of controlling fertility, responsible parenthood, and family planning. In addition, Article 22 the Civil Code of the Federal District provides that the legal capacity of natural persons is acquired at birth and lost at death; however, from the moment of conception the individual comes under the protection of the law, which is valid with respect to the individual as far as the effects of this law provides as if the individual were already born.
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Intervalo entre Nascimentos , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , Feto , Direitos Humanos , Legislação como Assunto , Política Pública , América , Países em Desenvolvimento , América Latina , México , América do Norte , Gravidez , ReproduçãoRESUMO
The Court granted the petition sought by the Juvenile Defender of the Argentina Ministry of Minors to prevent a mentally retarded minor who had been the victim of rape and who was four months into her pregnancy from having an abortion. The Defender sought to prevent the abortion because he believed 1) that the fetus had a right to life and 2) that the performance of the abortion would pose a significant health risk to the mother. Although the mother of the minor had consented under provisions of the Penal Code allowing a pregnancy occurring under such circumstances to be terminated if the legal representative of the mentally retarded woman consents, the Court ruled that there was no consent. It concluded that the mother was not the legal representative of the minor because the minor did not live with her parents and had not been legally declared mentally incompetent. The Court also stated that, in cases where a pregnant woman with parental authority petitions to have an abortion, the law mandates that the fetus be represented legally and that the court must consult the Ministry of Minors before it authorizes an abortion. It based its decision on the legal right of a fetus to life.
Assuntos
Aspirantes a Aborto , Aborto Induzido , Adolescente , Pessoas com Deficiência , Jurisprudência , Estupro , Consentimento do Representante Legal , Fatores Etários , América , Argentina , Crime , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , População , Características da População , Problemas Sociais , América do SulRESUMO
The Court of Appeal of Santiago, Chile, held that, under Articles 111 and 481(4) of the Chilean Code of Penal Procedure, the confession of an accused will prove that person's participation in the crime only if it is corroborated by other means of proof and the confession is in conformity with the circumstances surrounding the crime. It acquitted the defendant, who had confessed to the crime of abortion, noting that the medical record stated that the abortion was spontaneous and that the physician could not affirm that there had been abortive manipulations.
Assuntos
Aborto Criminoso , Aborto Induzido , Aborto Espontâneo , Jurisprudência , Legislação como Assunto , América , Chile , Países em Desenvolvimento , Doença , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , Complicações na Gravidez , América do SulRESUMO
PIP: Article 320 of the Criminal Code of the Federal District of Mexico defines "abortion" as the death of the conceptus at any time during pregnancy. Articles 320-32 specify penalties for inducing abortion, and Articles 333-34 exempt punishment if the abortion resulted from failure of the woman to take proper care, if the pregnancy was the result of rape, or if the pregnancy endangered the life of the woman. The abortion provisions of the criminal codes of the Mexican states of Baja California, Chiapas, Mexico, Sinoala, Sonora, Tabasco, and Tamaulipas are nearly identical to those of the Federal District Code. Certain states also give immunity from prosecution for abortion 1) if the pregnancy resulted from artificial insemination neither requested or assented to by the woman, provided that the abortion is carried out within the first 90 days of pregnancy; 2) if there is good reason to believe that the unborn child suffers from severe physical or mental disabilities of genetic or congenital origin; 3) if the health of the woman would be seriously jeopardized by the pregnancy, and 4) if the abortion is carried out for serious and substantiated economic reasons in cases where the woman has at least three children. Guanajuato and Queretaro allow abortions only when the pregnancy is the result of rape. Guerrero authorizes abortions only when the pregnancy is the result of rape, when the pregnancy results from an unlawful artificial insemination, or for eugenic reasons. Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi allows abortions only when the pregnancy is the result of rape or when the continuation of the pregnancy would seriously jeopardize the woman's health. In Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Oaxaca, and Veracruz, abortions allowed because the pregnancy resulted from rape must be performed in the first 90 days of pregnancy.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Aborto Terapêutico , Anormalidades Congênitas , Legislação como Assunto , Estupro , América , Doenças e Anormalidades Congênitas, Hereditárias e Neonatais , Crime , Países em Desenvolvimento , Doença , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , México , América do Norte , Problemas SociaisRESUMO
PIP: This document contains provisions of Panama's 1982 Penal Code. Chapter 2 describes the penalties for inflicting personal injuries that result in 20-30 days incapacitation. If the injury resulted in a permanent loss, such as the loss of the ability to procreate, the punishment is greater. Chapter 3 inflicts a punishment of one to three years imprisonment upon any woman found to induce her own abortion or to allow another person to perform her abortion. Various penalties (ranging from three to nearly 12 years) are given for inducing abortions in various circumstances. These penalties do not apply if the abortion is induced because the pregnancy resulted from rape or if the woman consented to the abortion because of the presence of a serious health risk to her life. Chapter 4 sets the penalty for abandonment of children or incapacitated individuals or failing to aid such individuals.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Aborto Terapêutico , Criança , Legislação como Assunto , Política Pública , Estupro , Esterilização Reprodutiva , Adolescente , Fatores Etários , América , América Central , Crime , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , América do Norte , Panamá , População , Características da População , Problemas SociaisRESUMO
PIP: This document contains provisions of the Criminal Code of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines which define and set penalties for 1) rape and other sexual offenses including child abuse, prostitution, and incest; 2) abortion, unless the abortion is necessary to protect the life or physical or mental health of the mother or any existing children of the family, unless there is a substantial risk that the child would be born with severely handicapped, or unless the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest; 3) bigamy and other marriage offenses such as impersonation; 4) infanticide; 5) abandonment of a child under the age of two years; and 6) kidnapping.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Criança , Incesto , Legislação como Assunto , Casamento , Política Pública , Estupro , Adolescente , Fatores Etários , América , Região do Caribe , Crime , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América do Norte , População , Características da População , São Vicente e Granadinas , Problemas SociaisRESUMO
PIP: This document contains provisions of the 1984 Penal Code of Montserrat relating to sexual offenses, abortion, offenses relating to marriage, homicide and other offenses against the person, and neglect endangering life or health. Part 8 of the Code holds that a man found guilty of raping a woman is liable to life imprisonment. Rape is deemed to involve unlawful (extramarital) sexual intercourse with a woman without her consent (this is determined if the rape involved force, threats, administration of drugs, or false representation). The Code also defines offenses in cases of incest, child abuse, prostitution, abduction, controlling the actions and finances of a prostitute, and having unlawful sexual intercourse with a mentally defective woman. Part 9 of the Code outlaws abortion unless it is conducted in an approved establishment after two medical practitioners have determined that continuing the pregnancy would risk the life or physical/mental health of the pregnant woman or if a substantial risk exists that the child would have serious abnormalities. Part 10 outlaws bigamy, and part 12 holds that infanticide performed by a mother suffering postpartum imbalances can be prosecuted as manslaughter. This part also outlaws concealment of the body of a newborn, whether that child died before, at, or after birth, and aggravated assault on any child not more than 14 years old. Part 12 makes it an offense to subject any child to neglect endangering its life or health.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Aborto Terapêutico , Maus-Tratos Infantis , Criança , Anormalidades Congênitas , Pessoas com Deficiência , Política de Planejamento Familiar , Incesto , Legislação como Assunto , Casamento , Política Pública , Estupro , Delitos Sexuais , Adolescente , Fatores Etários , América , Comportamento , Região do Caribe , Doenças e Anormalidades Congênitas, Hereditárias e Neonatais , Crime , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Doença , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América do Norte , População , Características da População , Comportamento Sexual , Problemas Sociais , Índias OcidentaisRESUMO
PIP: A team visit was made to Antigua, Barbados, St. Vincent, and Trinidad-Tobago to examine current abortion statutes and to determine liberalization prospects. In addition the team analyzed the abortion statutes in 15 English-speaking territories. The team found the laws forbid abortion except to save the life of the mother, although there has been some liberalizing to include granting abortions when the physicial or mental health of the mother is endangered and additional liberalization is anticipated. Other findings were that illegal abortion is widespread and public opinion generally favors abortion law reform. The visit came in the wake of a recommendation by the 4th Commonwealth Medical Conference, held in 1974, that the Commonwealth Secretariat collect information on laws concerning the medical termination of pregnancy.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Legislação como Assunto , América , Antígua e Barbuda , Barbados , Região do Caribe , Países em Desenvolvimento , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , América do Norte , São Vicente e Granadinas , Trinidad e TobagoRESUMO
A national sample of 120 Jamaican physicians, public health nurses, and licensed midwives participated in a two-stage Delphi survey to identify medical opinion on proposed liberlization of Jamaica's abortion law, and to predict the likely impact of such legislative action on existing health and family planning services. More than 80 percent of the respondents favored legalization of abortion, and most supported changes in the health service delivery system to accommodate the expected demand. They believed that clandestine abortion, involving pharmacists and physicians, is already widely practiced.
PIP: In Jamaica, existing law declares the act of abortion to be a felony although the law is rarely if ever enforced. A pregnant woman who seeks abortion and anyone helping her to obtain one is subject to prosecution. Many doctors are unwilling to face the possibility of legal confrontation. The purposes of this study were to provide policymakers with an overview of attitudes and opinions of those who must implement policy on abortion, to identify a consensus of informed opinion among medical personnel concerning proposed changes in law or policy on abortion, and to elict judgments of the magnitude of illegal abortion as a public health problem. The Delphi survey method has many variations, but a common feature is the repeated interrogation of respondents on their expectations and understandings regarding a particular issue. During the 1st round of data gathering, 120 informants were interviewed at length regarding abortion. After analysis of Round 1 data, and informing participants of results, those participating had an opportunity to reconsider their previous answers and to clarify ambiguous responses. The natural sample for Round 1 consisted of 70 physicians, 16 public health nurses, and 34 licensed midwives. The sample for Round 2 consisted of 65 physicians and 37 nurses and midwives. Also sought were the views of 20 physicians, not included in the random sample, who had been outspoken on the abortion issue. Licensed physicians and pharmacists were reported to be the most active in performing illegal abortions. The incidence of complications was reported to be greater when the abortions were performed by pharmacists. The predicted effect of liberalization of abortion laws on the use of contraceptive methods was that interest in such use would be increased. But an increase in the number of abortions was anticipated if such legislation were passed. Most doctors were in favor of the procedure of ''menstrual extraction'' but believed it should be subject to the same controls as regular abortion. However, many thought that nurses and others might be permitted to use this method. Survey results showed that there is a very solid support in the 3 segments of the medical community for liberalization of the abortion laws and for modifications in health services to care for an increased demand for abortions. The danger of a rapidly expanding population with already inadequate resources was ranked as a top social problem. Since the practice of abortion among Jamaican women is already widespread, a nonrestrictive abortion law finds general support within the medical community. Government action to relax curbs on abortion is described as an evolutionary, not a revolutionary step.
Assuntos
Aborto Legal , Atitude do Pessoal de Saúde , Aborto Criminoso , Anticoncepção , Feminino , Humanos , Jamaica , Legislação Médica , Métodos , Tocologia , Médicos , Gravidez , Enfermagem em Saúde Pública , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
PIP: This brief summary presents information on the epidemiology of abortion requested by IPPF. In 1975, 8% of the world's population lived in areas where the law prohibits abortion completely, and 27% lived in areas where abortions are severely restricted. Over 2 years, 40,000 hospitalizations for abortion complications were reported in such countries, with 168 deaths. 21% of women hospitalized for a diagnosis related to abortion died. In Latin America, hospitalization and death because of illegal abortion led to epidemiological studies. In Chile, surveys indicate that 1/4 women has had an abortion. Colombia data state that 10 women die/week from abortion complications. Bangladesh identified 31 abortion deaths. When related to live births occurring in the area from which the deaths were reported, the abortion mortality ratio was 19/1000,000 live births. Data from Romania showed that before 1966, when abortion was legal, there were fewer than 100 reported deaths. After 1966, when abortion was restricted, crude birth rate increased from 15-40/1000 total population. During the following 4 years, the birth rate dropped until it was below 25, but concomitant deaths due to abortion increased. In 1965, 64 abortion-related deaths occurred, whereas by 1971, abortion-related deaths increased to 364. In North America abortion deaths and number of illegal abortions decreased dramatically after 1973, when abortion became legal in the U.S. In 1972, illegal abortions led to the deaths of 41 women, but in 1974 only 5 such deaths occurred. If women with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies all underwent abortion within the 1st 8 weeks of pregnancy, 90% of the deaths due to legal abortion could be prevented.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Induzido , Agências Internacionais , África , América , Ásia , Sudeste Asiático , Bangladesh , Chile , Colômbia , Países Desenvolvidos , El Salvador , Europa (Continente) , Europa Oriental , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , América Latina , Mortalidade , América do Norte , Organizações , Romênia , América do Sul , Estados Unidos , Instituições Filantrópicas de SaúdeRESUMO
PIP: Abortion is a social problem and criminal sanctions are very ineffective in limiting it and are seldom applied (133 legal actions vs. 65,600 cases of induced abortion in 1965). Abortion is a social disease, as are prostitution, juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, and so far has been an insoluble problem. Colombian laws should be modified to reflect reality. Sex education must be emphasized, because ignorance is one of the main causes of abortion. Leniency should be applied toward women who cooperate with the authorities in identifying the person who performed an abortion. Legalization of abortion and enforcement of strict laws against it are considered as possible solutions, but both are rejected. The former is regarded as morally unacceptable and as imposing an excessive burden on scarce health services, the latter as even worse, imposing an equivalent burden on the court system, without s olving either health or social problems. The best and probably only solution is to improve education in family planning, to promote knowledge and motivation to enable the population to make sound and responsible decisions.^ieng
Assuntos
Aborto Espontâneo , Aborto Criminoso , Aborto Induzido , Aborto Legal , Adolescente , Adulto , Colômbia , Demografia , Feminino , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gravidez , Religião e Sexo , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
PIP: The family planning movement in Japan began when the total number of births in 1947-1949 reached 8 million and the birthrate reached 34 per 1000. This, combined with declining mortality, led to obvious population pressure. As a result of family planning efforts, birthrates fell below 20 per 1000 in 1955 and since 1960 have remained at 17-18 per 1000. Birth control is not new to Japan. It was only 100 years ago that abortion and infanticide were forbidden by law. Moral and religious objections to induced abortion and contraception were not powerful. In 1950 the Eugenic Protection Law was passed and induced abortions increased rapidly, reaching a maximum of 1,170,000 in 1955. Few were done for hereditary diseases. Family planning developed as a reaction to this unforseen widespread practice of induced abortion. Since then efforts to replace induced abortion by contraception have been pursued by the government's Population Problems Council and many nongovernmental voluntary groups. Induced abortions decreased to 843,000 in 1965 and birthrates fell from 19.4 to 18.5 in the same 1955-1965 period. Although total population increased by 9 million, the number of births increased by only 90,000 in these 10 years.^ieng