Zimbabwe High Court Strikes Down Abortion Law

The Harare High Court has declared unconstitutional a law that denied legal abortion access to minors and married women who are victims of marital rape. Justice Maxwell Takuva's ruling invalidates section 2(1) of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, citing violations of constitutional protections regarding dignity and the right to protection from degrading treatment. The judgment emphasizes that pregnancies resulting from unlawful intercourse, including child marriages and marital rape, should be treated as unlawful, thus necessitating access to safe abortion services. The ruling highlights the plight of child mothers and the exacerbating cycle of poverty linked to forced pregnancies. This landmark decision awaits confirmation from the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe and is viewed as a significant advancement for women's and children's rights in the country.