Abortion in Namibia is illegal under the Abortion and Sterilisation Act of South Africa (1975), which Namibia inherited at the time of Independence from South Africa in March 1990. Abortions are allowed only when continuing the pregnancy will "endanger the woman’s life or constitute a serious threat to her physical or mental health or there must be a serious risk that the child to be born will suffer from a physical or mental defect so as to be irreparably seriously handicapped. The act also allows for the termination of a pregnancy in cases of rape or incest. In addition to the woman’s doctor, two other doctors are required to certify the existence of grounds for an abortion and the operation must be performed by a medical practitioner in a State hospital or an approved medical facility."[1]
In a statement at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, then Minister of Health and Social Services Nickey Iyambo stated that
On the question of abortion, the position of Namibia is that it can only be performed under strict medical supervision within the confines of the laws, which state that consent to abortion can only be given in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in danger. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen it must be clearly understood that Namibia does not promote abortion as a means of family planning but as a public health issue.[2]
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