Denial of abortion rights as a form of ill-treatment or torture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7146/torture.v34i3.152020Keywords:
torture, abortionAbstract
The paper presents a review of the evolution of sexual and reproductive rights within the context of the international human rights framework.
Subsequently, an analysis is presented of the extant data on legislation by country, statistics on unsafe abortion and evidences on the relationship between abortion and mental health.
In the second section, the text reviews the legal grounds for two situations: firstly, the denial of health services in relation to the termination of pregnancy as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and secondly, those cases in which the denial of abortion could constitute a violation of the Convention against Torture.
Consequently, the position of the relevant international bodies is examined, and the manner in which each assumption of the definition of torture is satisfied is analysed, as well as the significance attributed to each element by the various committees. This information is then used to present elements related to forensic documentation in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol.
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