“Ecuador is the second country in the region that has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies.”
The UN special rapporteur on violence against women, Dubravka Simonovic concluded an 11-day visit to Ecuador and, among her recommendations, she asked the Government to decriminalize abortion.
“During a meeting with Constitutional Court officials, we have analyzed international standards and what is being done in other countries. I hope this will yield positive results,” Simonovic said.
The rapporteur described the current legislation on abortion in Ecuador as “very restrictive.” Currently, abortion is legal only when the life of the pregnant woman is at risk and when it is a pregnancy for rape to a woman with mental disability.
“I am requesting the release of women imprisoned on charges related to abortion. I have received information that there are 220 women in prison,” the UN rapporteur said.
She regretted that Ecuador continues showing an increase in teenage pregnancies. “There are 240,000, in some cases 10 to 14 years old, and if you count this throughout the year, there are approximately seven pregnancies per day. Ecuador is the second country in the region that has the highest rates of teenage pregnancies,” she said.
Source: Pichincha Comunicaciones.
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