Cheryllyn Dudley of the ACPD  is currently proposing amendments to South Africa’s Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1996. The aim of the amendment is to protect the rights of women and children who are faced with the choice of terminating pregnancy.

The Bill proposes that the 1996 law be amended  “so as to ensure a woman or child is able to make a fully informed choice regarding the termination of her pregnancy.”

The bill proposes that all facilities that perform abortions should provide access to proper counselling, as required by the regulations of the Act. The reality is that most facilities do not provide sufficient counselling and information about alternatives.

The bill suggests that all abortion facilities should:

(a)     have access to ultrasound equipment which must be used (i)  accurately to determine  the gestation period prior to TOP and, (ii) to provide relevant information as to the state of the development of the unborn child thereby assisting the mother to make an informed choice.

(i)   gives access to counselling which:

(i) must comply with Regulation 7 of the Regulations made under the principal Act

(ii) provides full opportunity for discussion and questions;

(iii) provides sufficient information, including electronic pictures, or diagrams and photographs, to enable the woman or child to understand the development of the unborn child;

(iv) includes discussion of the extent of the risks involved in continuing the pregnancy as set against the risks involved in terminating the pregnancy including breast cancer, depression and future difficulties in conceiving and bearing children and

(v) available alternatives to abortion including adoption and state and other support available to the mother.

For more information please contact

Cheryllyn Dudley, MP: 082 890 6520 or

Liziwe Ndalana, ACDP Parliamentary Media Liaison

Tel: 021 403 3307 / 072 103 8899