Legalise abortion, brothels, says minister
Baboki Kayawe | Tuesday December 9, 2014 16:19
Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East, Botlogile Tshireletso, yesterday delivered a heartfelt plea to government to legalise abortion, brothels and introduce pregnancy allowance for needy women.
Tshireletso, who is also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said too many back-street abortions were taking place due to the fact abortion is illegal, and many of the people opting for it were poor women who often die in the process.
“Legalisation of abortion would ensure that those in need of these services do so in hygienic and professional environments. Furthermore, availing professional counselors in such facilities helps people who intend on aborting to find sanity as qualified persons talks them through their decision, and advises them that pregnancy is not the end of the world,” she said.
On pregnancy allowances for needy women, Tshireletso argued it would help remote area women, most of whom are poor. Owing to their indigent state, many of the women find themselves helpless during pregnancy when depression and many forms of psychological disturbances that consume them could endanger both the mother and the unborn child’s health.
“Such women worry too much during pregnancy, especially when the father has fled and they are on their own to fend for the child,” she said.
She said the proposed allowance would cater for necessary preparations before and after birth.
On sex-work Tshireletso said it is time Parliament acted to ensure that the conditions under which sex workers operated in are safe. This, inevitably, would entail legalising the trade. She said the trade was carried undercover and exposed sex-workers to diseases, while some are assaulted for demanding payment. There were even some reports that some law enforcement officers took advantage of their situation and benefitted freely.
“Establishing brothels would help curb some of these problems,” she said.