INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
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Campaigners say South Korea's abortion ban stigmatises women and endangers
their health
South Korea's ban on abortion has been ruled unconstitutional in a historic court decision.The country's
constitutional court ordered that the law must be revised by the end of 2020.Under the 1953 ban, women who have abortions can be fined and
imprisoned, except in cases of rape, incest or risk to their health
Doctors who perform the procedure can also face jail.South Korea is one of the few developed countries to criminalise abortion.On Wednesday
an opinion poll found 58% of the public favour abolishing the ban.The law was reviewed after a challenge from a female doctor who was
prosecuted for performing almost 70 abortions
She said the ban endangered women and limited their rights.The push for change comes from a burgeoning movement fighting for women's rights
Pro-choice campaigners say the abortion ban is part of a broader bias against women in the country.South Korea is home to a large number of
evangelical Christians, however - and some want abortion to remain illegal because they say it forces women to think deeply about the
decision.Tears on both sidesAs the cheers of celebration rippled through the hundreds who'd gathered to fight to overturn the abortion ban,
She'd had an abortion in the past
She'd hid her decision for years, even from her close friends, because she felt ashamed
But today she said she felt she could breathe and that her choice finally felt valid
Others in this mostly young group of women told me this landmark ruling finally made them feel that female voices were being heard in what
is a deeply patriarchal society
On the other side of the road a group of anti-abortion activists shouted "down with feminism"
They believe this ruling will not stand and that there is a chance to fight on
The Constitutional Court's decision has put the next step into the hands of politicians, who have until December 2020 to re-write the law
These conservative groups believe they can influence that process
How widespread is abortion in South KoreaDespite the restrictive law, abortions are widely accessible in South Korea and can be carried out
Women who end their pregnancies are rarely prosecuted, but activists say the ban puts their health at risk and generates social stigma
Teenagers who get pregnant are often forced to end their studies or transfer to remote institutions, according to youth rights groups
A survey last year found that one in five women who had been pregnant had had an abortion, and just 1% fell under the legal exemptions, AFP
news agency reports.An estimated 50,000 abortions were carried out in South Korea in 2017, compared with government estimates of about
This fall is largely attributed to improvements to contraceptive services and products, which are now widely available, and a better
understanding of birth control
