Emergency Resolution on Nicaragua

Santiago, Chile, 3-4 November 2006

Emergency Resolution

Socialist International Women (SIW) is genuinely worried and shocked at the decision taken on 26 October 2006 by the Nicaraguan Government to sharpen the already rigid and inhuman abortion legislation. This new legislation would involve the absolute prohibition of abortion.

While pretending to defend lives, the indirect result of the sharpened legislation would in fact imply a death sentence for many women and children.

Socialist International Women, therefore:

• urges the incoming Nicaraguan Government and Parliament to reconsider the recently made decision which is in violation of the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), signed by Nicaragua;
• offers its continuous support to women and men in Nicaragua fighting for human rights, including women’s rights and
• urges women’s organisations and progressive men worldwide to join SIW in the fight against restrictive practices concerning women’s health and reproductive rights.