International Debate On Abortion Issue

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, and Americans have lost their constitutional right to an abortion, what is the future of the controversial issue in The Bahamas?

Jared Higgs who explored the issue last month tells us members of the public remain divided.

With the United States Supreme Court striking down Roe v Wade, a landmark 1973 ruling that the U.S Constitution protected a pregnant woman’s liberty to have an abortion without excessive government restrictions, some are questioning what impact, if any that may have on The Bahamas.

Many Bahamians who are pro-life, or anti-abortion, point to their Christian faith as the foundation for their stance.

While virtually everybody we interviewed who was against abortion supported a woman terminating a pregnancy in the event of rape or incest, most believed that women should live with the consequences of their actions.

On the other hand, many younger Bahamians are pro-choice, like this 22-year-old accounts clerk, and this 16-year-old who was accompanied by her stepmother. They highlighted circumstances where a female should be allowed to consider abortion as an option.

Abortion is illegal in The Bahamas, although a 2012 UN report revealed that the government was aware of cases where licensed physicians performed abortions for justifiable reasons.

At the time, the government said such abortions were possible because the law against abortions was interpreted liberally.