Huffingpost Japan, 2022 Nov. 16, by Nodoka Konishi
Using Google translate. Original is in Japanese.
The consent of the spouse is required, and there is an "abortion crime". A group made up of researchers held a meeting, arguing that the current state of abortion in Japan is out of line with international standards.
Spousal consent required. It costs about 100,000 yen. There is an "abortion crime"
On November 14, a group of researchers called " #Safer Abortion Action " held an in-house rally at the House of Councillors Members' Office building, claiming that the current state of Japan's artificial abortion does not comply with international standards. .
Officials from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Justice also attended and answered questions from the organizations, but many questions were raised from the sponsoring organizations, members of the Diet, and general participants.
Looking at the world, the situation of abortion in Japan is
At the rally, he explained the abortion guidelines published by WHO . He introduced that the law recommends the complete decriminalization of abortion and that it does not require the consent of a spouse or family member to be a requirement for abortion.In Japan, "abortion crime" is established in the penal code for abortion. In the Maternal Protection Act, for physical and economic reasons that "may seriously harm the health of the mother", "artificial abortion can be performed with the consent of the person and the spouse." and has not been "completely decriminalized".
Also, in principle, the consent of the spouse is required, and there are many cases in which consent is sought even if the other party is not the spouse. In 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women recommended that Japan abolish the requirement for spousal consent .
Why Do You Need Spousal Consent? The purpose of the legislation is unknown
Groups submitted questions in advance to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Ministry of Justice.
Regarding the reason why the consent of the spouse is required, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said that it was established when the former Eugenic Protection Law, which later became the Maternal Protection Law, was enacted by lawmakers in 1948. It is difficult to give a clear answer as to whether it was something like that."
In addition, a British pharmaceutical company is currently applying to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to approve the use of oral abortion drugs in Japan, but even if it is approved, it will be operated in accordance with the Maternal Protection Act, so the person in charge of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare "We believe that the consent of the spouse is required," he said.
Regarding these answers, the audience raised voices such as "That's why women's rights are restricted."
At the rally, a "request for international standard abortion medicine" was submitted to the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare and the Minister of Justice. They called for prompt approval of oral abortion drugs, not to make the cost too high, and a review of the abortion crime and maternal protection law.
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