Human Rights Federation: Preventing Abortion is Violence Against Women

The International Federation for Human Rights issued a statement on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, describing the prevention of the right to abortion as "violence against women." In this statement, published on Wednesday, December 5, on the federation's website, it is stated that "repressive laws that criminalize access to abortion are still in effect across all continents and are a serious violation of women's rights." The International Federation for Human Rights, referring to existing laws against abortion and related penalties in various Asian, American, European, and African countries, added that these laws "violate women's rights to health and life by restricting or eliminating women's right to control their bodies." Abdolkarim Lahiji, the president of this federation, described these laws as "violent and deadly," stating: "They not only control women's bodies but also force women to resort to unsafe and underground abortions, which pose serious health risks that can sometimes endanger their lives. For young girls, carrying a pregnancy to term can cause long-term damage to their bodies and jeopardize their futures." Khadijeh Sharif, coordinator of the women's rights action group at the International Federation for Human Rights, also stated: "Criminalizing underground abortions increases the number of victims among women living in unbearable conditions. As mandated by the United Nations, these meaningless laws must be immediately repealed." Iran's laws also impose significant restrictions on abortion, allowing it only under specific conditions. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Siari, deputy minister of health, treatment, and medical education, reported in July of this year that there are 220,000 abortions annually in Iran, of which "only 7,000 of these abortions are authorized." In this context, there are an estimated 250,000 illegal abortions annually in Iran.