From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: HONDURAS: ABORTION WILL NOT BE LEGALISED
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 08:23:32 GMT

/** reg.honduras: 47.0 **/
** Topic: IPS: Abortion Will Not Be... **
** Written  2:48 pm  Aug 13, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.honduras **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: IPS: Abortion Will Not Be...

/* Written 12:04 am  Aug 13, 1992 by newsdesk in
cdp:ips.englibrary */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all
rights reserved.  Permission to re- print within 7 days of
original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: HONDURAS: ABORTION WILL NOT BE LEGALISED, PARLIAMENT SAYS

tegucigalpa, aug 10 (ips) -- the honduran parliament has ruled out
the possibility that abortion will be legalised in the country.

rodolfo irias, president of the honduran congress, denied that
proposed reforms to the penal code include the legalisation of
abortion. ''there is no such initiative and most deputies are
opposed to it, '' he said.

but the feminist network for the prevention and eradication of
violence had divulged to the public a series of legal observations
sent to the legislative assembly proposing several changes in the
penal code particularly in articles dealing with sexual liberty,
honor, rape, and incest.

the feminine groups in favour of abortion are lobbying for its
legal approval in cases of rape and for medical reasons.

the groups are seeking to eliminate sanctions against incestuous
relationships, particularly between fathers and children and
brothers and sisters, when both parties are willing participants.
but they said the offenders must be punished in case of rape.

monsignor oscar rodriguez, former executive secretary of the latin
american episcopal conference and tegucigalpa's auxiliary
archbishop, said there was a campaign for birth control to be
included in the legislation when medical reasons called for it.
but he stated: ''a crime cannot be rectified with another crime
and the honduran society should improve its education programmes
to prevent these situations.''

humberto palacios moya, an expert on the country's penal code and
professor of the national state university, said some articles in
the code should be changed because they do not take into account
the idiosyncrasies of the honduran people.

as an example, moya cited the widespread practice of kidnaping a
girl to marry her in rural areas of the country.

a group of female deputies in the honduran parliament also
introduced a series of proposals to reform the penal code and
increase sanctions against people who commit sexual offences.

they have proposed that a criminal who commits rape or kidnaping
be required to pay for the costs of the victim's medical and
psychological tests to guarantee her recovery and reintegration
into society.

the deputies also suggested that a rape victim who get pregnant be
allowed to demand that the offender acknowledge the child and take
care of his paternal obligations. (more/ips)

honduras:

the parliamentarians said rape victims should be able to decide
whether or not they want to keep the baby. but in case they decide
on abortion, criminal responsibility should go to the rapist.

but according to several honduran lawyers, helping a victim end
her pregnancy would be like legalising abortion.

meanwhile, the federation of feminine associations in honduras has
demanded that the legislative assembly reject all initiatives to
legalise abortion.

''we want all individuals who commit offences against the physical
and moral dignity of persons, men or women, to be punished
severely,'' the federation said.  (end/ips/trd/jrd/sfi/cir/92)

** End of text from cdp:reg.honduras **
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