Commentary: The proposed legislation on termination of pregnancy does not protect women or children in Malawi and is not fit for the intended purpose: Christian Medical and Dental Fellowshipi position

This legislation represents a significant move towards liberalisation of abortion in Malawi. Those supporting the legislation have founded their arguments mainly on the premise that it will protect women and reduce maternal mortality. We join with them to express our concern with the high number of maternal deaths in the country and firmly assert our commitment and role to ensure that no woman dies from pregnancy-related complications. Aside from the maternal mortality arguments, many of those supporting this legislation take a “pro-choice” position, insisting that the rights of a woman who is pregnant supersede any rights of her unborn child, sidelining both male (parental) responsibility and the responsibility of society to take charge of the wider societal issues raised by “unwanted” pregnancies.