MHRRC, CSJ Train Journalists on Termination of Pregnancy Bill
A 2015-2019 study found Malawi sees 134,000 abortions annually, accounting for 18% of maternal deaths.
MZUZU, Malawi — The Malawi Human Rights Resources Centre partnered with the Centre for Solutions Journalism on Friday to hold a workshop aimed at garnering support for a proposed Termination of Pregnancy bill that would expand grounds for legal abortion, writes Victor Musongole.
The daylong event oriented journalists from the Nyika Media Club on sexual and reproductive health rights and the draft legislation that has faced resistance despite intensive consultations since 2015.
"We believe reaching out to journalists will make them write and broadcast from the informed decision, thereby raising awareness on the Termination of Pregnancy bill which is facing a lot of resistance from Malawians including the Parliament," said Enoch Chinkhuntha, programmes officer for MHRRC's Breaking Barriers project.
If approved by Parliament, the bill would permit abortion in cases of rape, incest and other grounds beyond the current strict allowance only when a woman's life is at risk.
Chinkhuntha cited 35,000 recorded unsafe abortions in 2023 as a "wake-up call" for people to view the bill as essential for protecting girls' and women's sexual reproductive rights.
Nyika Media Club chairperson Feston Malekezo said the training helped journalists understand the new grounds proposed in the legislation.
"They can now be writing from an informed position," Malekezo said.
Offenders of Malawi's current abortion law, which has remained unchanged for over 90 years, face up to 14 years in prison.
A 2015-2019 study found Malawi sees 134,000 abortions annually, accounting for 18% of maternal deaths.