Abortion in Algeria

A government bill on health issues proposed to make abortions legal on three grounds:

1. The woman is psychologically and or mentally at risk.
2. Non-viable or severe fetal abnormality or disease.
3. The health or the life of the woman will be at risk if the pregnancy were to continue. When the woman is to see the doctor, the doctor must get the consent of that woman and inform her of the whole situation.

This is the text that was published when the bill was passed, "Therapeutic termination of pregnancy is intended to preserve the health of the mother and when her life or psychological and mental balance is seriously threatened by pregnancy. The detailed rules for the application of this article are laid down by regulation."^[2]

A new law for abortion was debated in the National Assembly. Before this, Algerians only option for abortion was to go to clinics or Tunisia. These clinics did not have any safety or good hygiene environments. The clinics did not meet any of the standards therefore would be risking the woman's life.

There have been many cases of death of a pregnant woman and where there have been fetuses' and newborns found in dumpsters and trash cans. This shows that there has been a huge distress of a woman seeking an abortion.^[3]

There have been secret abortion clinics in Algeria. Many of the clients were young girls who made a mistake and wanted it to go away. Other clients were women who were housewives and when the husband found out about the babies, the mothers were forced to give them up. One common reason why these women go to the secret abortion clinics is because they do not want to be pushed away from their families. Another reason is they are truly not ready to care to a child. To pay for these illegal abortions, women commonly save money for long periods of time or sell jewelry.^[4]