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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA ABORTION RIGHTS USA (TV)
HEADLINE: US Abortion Rights Reversal to Impact Africa, Campaigners Worry
TEASER:
PUBLISHED:
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Nairobi, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Schearf, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:45
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning the right to abortion has raised concerns among activists about a domino effect in developing countries, including in Africa. In Kenya, anti-abortion groups have welcomed the ruling while abortion rights supporters fear it could further restrict the reproductive health of girls and women. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi, Kenya.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: STREETS OF NAIROBI, KARIRA))
((NARRATOR))
Anti-abortion groups in mainly Christian Kenya celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of the right to abortion in June, calling it a divine intervention.
((Catherine Karira, Christian Youth Mentor ((English, ?? secs))
“Abortion is murder, and the abortionists are also murderers. So, when I see that the Supreme Court is choosing life, that is the way to go.”
((VIDEO-VOA: STREETS OF NAIROBI, “DIANA” B-ROLLS-various))
((NARRATOR))
Kenya has upheld the right to abortion but only for health reasons, leading many women to seek unsafe, illegal abortions on demand.
After watching her friend bleed to death from one such abortion in Nairobi, 20-year-old “Diana” — not her real name — sought professional help when she wanted an abortion.
(("Diana”, Nairobi Resident (Swahili, 17 secs))
"I went to a good clinic and the doctor took me though the process. Now I'm fine, as you can see, I'm all well. I'm healthy and I don't have any complications."
((VIDEO-VOA: STREETS OF NAIROBI, “DIANA” B-ROLLS-various, WHO LOGO, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FACILITY, MOSIGIS))
((NARRATOR))
But like many abortion-rights supporters in Africa, Diana worries the U.S. top court’s overturning the abortion right could encourage more legal restrictions in Kenya and lead to more deaths.
The World Health Organization says 75% of abortions in Africa are unsafe.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health estimates 2,600 women and girls die each year from complications related to unsafe abortions — that is 35% of all maternal deaths.
((Duncan Mosigis, Nurse, (English, 15 secs))
"There is a high rate of maternal deaths resulting from unsafe abortions because these women have been denied the right to have safe abortion services."
((VIDEO-VOA: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FACILITY IN NAIROBI))
((NARRATOR))
Former U.S. President Donald Trump restricted funding to developing countries’ reproductive health as part of the so-called “gag rule” against abortion.
Abortion rights campaigners say that was the first sign that more action would be needed to protect the right at home.
((Martin Onyango, Center for Reproductive Rights, (English))
“While the U.S has been very generous in supporting our health systems, we must be more proactive ourselves and have the right laws, the right practices that favor access to reproductive health, including abortion care.”
((VIDEO-VOA: KENYAN CONSTITUTION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH FACILITY IN NAIROBI-various))
((NARRATOR))
Kenya has gradually liberalized its abortion laws to allow, in 2019, termination for sexual violence.
A judge ruled in March this year that abortion care is a constitutional right and even cited the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision that was then overturned in June.
That ruling is being challenged and Kenya’s abortion rights advocates worry the U.S. change in law might affect the final decision.
((Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Nairobi, Kenya.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Nairobi
BylineJuma Majanga
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
