UN Radio Interview with Ms. Thokozile Ruzvidzo, Director of the African Center for Gender and Social Development Download the audio: http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/106634.html Transcript: 36,000 African women die annually from unsafe abortions It's thought an estimated 36,000 women die annually from unsafe abortions in Africa. Many of them are young girls who have unwanted pregnancies and who are forced to have operations illegally....so-called back-street abortions. Abortion is, in most cases, against the law in Africa, but there are moves to legalise it. Thoko Ruzvidzo is from the UN's Economic Commission for Africa. Her focus at the centre for Gender and Social Development is to push for legalistaion. Daniel Dickinson asked her what happens when young girls have unwanted pregnancies. Duration: 2'11" The typical scenario is young girls who are still in school who have unprotected sex and are pregnant and want to continue with schooling and a large percentage of the unsafe abortions are basically the young women who's school going age who don't want to drop out of school. DICKINSON: A young girl gets pregnant what does she do next? RUZVIDZO: In most instances, they will go for unsafe abortion which means they will find someone who will do it quietly using all different ways of aborting which are not necessarily safe nor are they hygienic. DICKINSON: Would these abortions be done by trained doctors working illegally or by non- trained practitioners? RUZVIDZO: By both. Non-trained practitioners or by doctors illegally. But in most instances it is non-trained practitioners. DICKINSON: What's the situation regarding abortion across Africa? Is it legal? RUZVIDZO: No it's not legal. A lot of it is not legal because here you are talking about cultural beliefs and religion, to a great extent religion. There's been a lot of fights by gender activist and that s the reason we are doing the work that we are doing and getting member states to legalize abortion. DICKINSON: Realistically that's not going to happen is it? That will require a major shift in policy from governments across Africa? It's just not going to happen is it? RUZVIDZO: It will require a major shift. I don't want to say it will not happen. There are all sorts of legal formats that have been put in place addressing women's rights that we never thought would happen. But it will take a long time. You have to look at the change of attitude. You have to look at the religious conviction. You have to look at the whole taboo around abortion. So you find there is a lot of resistance. So it will take a lot of time. DICKINSON: Are there any success stories to report? Have you managed to change the mindset as you put it? RUZVIDZO: Let me give you three examples that have put in place policies but have not necessarily legalized. There is on-going work in Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia. South Africa and Ethiopia there is a bit of leverage on working toward abortion. But to a great extent abortion is restricted within the laws. NARR: Daniel Dickinson speaking to Thoko Ruzvidzo about unsafe abortions in Africa.
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