Parliamentarians in Benin have voted to legalize abortion in the West African country, where it was already authorized under restricted conditions.
Under the new law passed late on Wednesday women can terminate a pregnancy within the first three months if it is likely to “aggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child’s interest”.
Previously, abortion was authorized if pursing the pregnancy “threatened the life of the mother”, was “the result of a rape or incest” or, when “the unborn child has a particularly severe affection”.
After a heated debate in parliament, with some lawmakers strongly opposed to legalising abortion further, the amendment finally passed.