PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT POSSIBLE ABUSE OF ABORTION RULE

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 21 (Antara) - The government's regulation number 61/2014 on Reproductive Health, which allows abortion in certain emergency situations and in case of victims of rape, is giving rise to apprehensions of possible abuse by unscrupulous elements.          The National Commission for Prevention of Violence Against Women (NCW) suggested that the implementation of this regulation should be supervised by all stakeholders to prevent any misuse by those indulging in free sex and illicit relations.          "Actually, undergoing abortion is not a must for any rape victim. It is only an option since some victims could be ready to carry through their unwanted pregnancy. Not everyone may be ready to abort the foetus," Safitri Andriani of the NCW said here on Wednesday.          According to Safitri, the government's regulation on reproductive health was still to regulate all aspects concerning women victims because some clauses still had loopholes.          Ratna Batara Munti, director of the Legal Aid Institute of Women for Justice (LBH APIK), is of the view that abortions carried out on ground of rape should be based on recommendations of professionals and medical experts so that the regulation is not abused.          "Abortions must be carried out based on recommendation and medical evaluation by obstetricians, psychiatrists and psychologists. Provision needs to be made for counselling, particularly for the family members of the victim," Ratna Batara Munti said during a discussion in Jakarta on Wednesday (Aug. 20, 2014).