Legalized abortion and free sex

Legalized abortion and free sex

From Republika

Indonesia's maternal and infant mortality is the highest in
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region,
reaching 307 per 100,000 live births. Directly contributing to
the rate are hemorrhage (28 percent), eclampsia (13 percent),
abortion (11 percent) and sepsis (10 percent).

With unsafe or illegal abortion sharing 11 percent of the
death rate, some people in public circles are wanting legal
protection through the legalization of abortion.

The amendment of Law No.23/1992 on women's reproductive health
is sought because some articles are considered unfavorable to
women. For example, abortion as a result of free sex is unsafe
because the existing rule only concerns married women.

It is alarming to note that 58 percent of 2,558 cases of
abortion were practiced on predominantly unmarried girls aged 15-
24. The present permissive lifestyles and hedonistic culture have
led them to free association with the opposite sex.

Legalized abortion may reduce the death rate but as long as
the main cause of this mortality is not overcome, the change will
not be significant. The worst effect of legalization will be more
widespread free-sex activity and increased transmission of
HIV/AIDS.

FARHAH ANISAA
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan