By Meg Jalsevac
TAIWAN, Nov. 1, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The executive branch of the government of Taiwan has proposed an amendment to the current abortion law that, among other things, would stipulate a 3-day ‘think it over’ period for women seeking an abortion. Overall, the amendment would make abortion law in Taiwan more stringent.Â
It is believed that the new law was proposed in an attempt to stem the large number of abortions in the country. According to a 1992 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 46 percent of Taiwanese women have undergone an abortion. The Associated Press reports that several prominent Taiwanese gynecologists currently believe that there may be more abortions each year than the annual birth rate of 230,000.
The amendment would mandate that women prove that they have consulted with their physician before seeking an abortion.Â
Minors under the age of 18 would have to obtain permission from their parents or guardians before obtaining an abortion. If, because of extenuating circumstances, the legal guardians could not exercise their right of guardianship, the bill allows for social welfare authorities to act in the girl’s best interest.Â
Under current Taiwanese law, married women must prove that they have their spouse’s permission to receive an abortion. The new law would demand only that they notify their spouse prior to obtaining the abortion. This condition is waived if the woman proves that she cannot locate the spouse or to notify her spouse would place her in danger.ÂÂÂ
Abortion rights groups across Taiwan have reacted to the proposed bill by accusing the government of interfering in a woman’s choice. Chi Hui-jung, head of the feminist Garden of Hope Foundation, said, “We should make information and services available to pregnant girls, not tell them what to do.” She accused the government of refusing to establish a hot-line to help pregnant girls because it might encourage them to seek an abortion.Â
Abortion was only legalized in Taiwan in 1984 under the Eugenics and Health Care Act. Although legalized, regulations for abortion were still very strict. Unmarried women were only permitted to obtain an abortion in cases of rape or incest or if the father of the child was married to someone else. Before 1984, illegal abortion was prevalent.ÂÂ
Abortion opponents today assert that Taiwanese teen-agers currently use abortion as a contraceptive means and go to private clinics for abortions to escape the stigma of unmarried pregnancy.ÂÂÂ
Religious groups from all faiths have widely supported the new bill because of its limitations on abortions. Shih Chao-hui, a Buddhist, says, “Abortion often is an impulsive move, and we should do all we can to prevent it.” Many pro-life groups have lobbied the government to extend the ‘think it over’ period to 7 days. They also oppose the changing of the requirement of spousal permission to simply notifying the spouse of the abortion.Â
The new amendment would change the name of the ‘Eugenics and Health Care Act’ to the ‘Birth and Health Care Act’.Â
The bill must first be approved by the Legislative Branch to be passed into Taiwanese law.