By Bill W. Cooper
Members of the Inter Religious Council of Liberia and health experts have differed on the revised public health law, with the contentious issue of abortion taking center stage in the midst of ongoing debates surrounding public health legislation.
While some health experts argue for the importance of reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortions, religious communities voice concerns over the moral and ethical implications of such laws.
The differences were discussed yesterday, July 10, 2023 during the Senate Committee on Health and Judiciary joint public hearing with the Inter Religious Council of Liberia, with aim of soliciting the views of religious leaders on the revised public health law, especially the aspect of abortion.
The revised public health law, which is currently before the Senate, seeks to revise the 1976 heath law on abortion, for it to be permissible under three circumstances; where the pregnancy poses risk to the mother, pregnancy is as a result of rape, and pregnancy borne out of incest.
Within the current public health law, abortion is legalized, but the carrier has a period of 24 weeks to commit the act, but the proposed revised public health law seeks to reduce the abortive period to 18 weeks.
The hearing brought together stakeholders within the health sector and the religious community, including Liberia Medical and Dental Council, Ministry of Health, National Catholic Health Council, Liberia Council of Churches, National Muslim Council of Liberia, as well as the Catholic Church, and held conversations on the abortion component within the revised public health bill.
The Public Health Law was passed by the House of Representatives on July 21, 2022 and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence, and since its passage by the House of Representatives, the Senate has come under serious pressure to concur with the House on the passage of the Revised Public Health Bill.
The bill also seeks to address several challenges within the health sector, to include sexual reproductory health, abortion, and sexual hygiene, among others.
But during Monday’s hearing, stakeholders within the religious community denounced the issue of the legalization of abortion in Liberia and called for a repeal of the law, while stakeholders within the health sector remain divided on the legalization of abortion in Liberia.
As public health legislation evolves, health experts advocate for comprehensive reproductive healthcare that includes access to safe abortions, and further argue that reproductive rights are fundamental to women’s health, equality, and autonomy.
According to the health experts, restrictive abortion laws disproportionately affect marginalized communities, leading to unsafe and clandestine procedures that put women’s lives at risk.
They emphasize that legalizing and regulating abortion services ensures that women have access to medical professionals and facilities that can provide safe and compassionate care.
Some of the health experts added, “Ensuring access to safe and legal abortion is a critical part of comprehensive healthcare. It allows women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, prevents maternal mortality, and addresses social and economic disparities.”
However, the religious communities, driven by their moral and ethical convictions, vehemently oppose the expansion of abortion rights. They view life as beginning at conception and believe that abortion is a violation of the sanctity of life.
For the religious community, the protection of the unborn is non-negotiable, and any legislation that facilitates or promotes abortion is seen as a direct affront to their religious beliefs, and added, “We firmly believe that every life, from conception to natural death, is sacred and should be protected because abortion undermines the dignity of the unborn and disregards the moral fabric of our society.”
Furthermore, while health experts advocate for evidence-based approaches to public health, religious communities argue that moral and ethical considerations should take precedence in decision-making processes.
On the other hand, the Inter Religious Council further argued that their beliefs guide their understanding of what constitutes ethical healthcare practices, and stressed the need for their voices to be heard in the public debate, reflecting the values and principles they hold dear.
Meanwhile, following the debate, the Joint Committee on Health and Judiciary rescheduled another meeting with stakeholders on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 3:00pm in the Senate Conference Room.
