Bianjie

[journey]

Bianjie and its relationship with the abortions and women's right to choose
6 August 5716



Despite progressing quickly with regards to many social issues, Bianjie was and still is somewhat conservative country, with many of the people, mostly from older generation, not accepting changing social norms and traditions in the nation. Ever since the reinstallation of the khanate monarchy in the August 5373, Bianjie has been swinging back and forth on many of the issues, including abortion. Following the coup, the new absolutist executive power installed harsher rules on the women's right to choose, at first completely banning any abortions in the country, later on relaxing it to allow exemptions in case of rape or risk to life of the child, but it still was not enough.

The draconian laws would remain in place until the middle of the 55th century, when absolutist khanate monarchy regime would undergo a series of democratisation reforms, which would result in the review of many laws, including the main and the most important one, the Constitution. The reformist forces behind the democratisation period in Bianjie, led by the Liberal Party governments, expanded the civil rights, including the right to choose, erasing socially conservative provisions in the Consitution, enshrined inside the basic law by the absolutist forces in the 54th century. By the end of the initial democratisation period, then-premier Ebilun Samusir (LP), has announced that Bianjie will once again allow pregnancy terminations for medical reasons, risk of health or life, or rape cases, but when it came to the personal freedoms, Samusir refused to answer, creating a new wave of protests and marches for women's rights in the country.

In the 55th century, during the Bianjie Democratic Action (BDA) governments, the government continued the status quo in Bianjie, leaving relatively common sense abortion laws in place, but refusing to allow more personal liberties for women. That is until the BDA government was forced to implement changes to the abortion laws, allowing up to 10 weeks on women's request, by the PFP, following the general election, in which BDA lost its majority, and was required to make a coalition. PFP leader at the time, Atu Maca, a woman herself, has said: "Politicising this issue is the last thing that we want, but the reality of the matter is that we as a party have the priviledge to decide the next government, and we will use it, to push for the changes the people need". 

And so, in the 56th, came the latest and final major change to the legislation regarding pregnancy terminations in Bianjie. During the third government of Sain Jalar (SPP), the State Council has uplifting the limits on the cases of risk of health and life, as well as rape cases, increasing the limit on fetal impairments and economic or social reasons up to 22 weeks, and the most importantly, allowing to perform abortions on request as late as 18 weeks, however, after a consultation with professional doctor. According to then-health minister, Yabuli Ibe (PCP), the provision was "as progressive as humanly possible" in an environment of a somewhat socially conservative society, especially when it comes to such controversial issues, like abortion. Slowly, but solidly, the public opinion did become more positive and open to the new legislation, and issue in general, as the new generations born already in the globalising Bianjie grew up, becoming adults and legal voters. According to the most recent opinion poll by the Institute of Sociology of the University of Gemun (ISUG), in December 5615, little more than half of the respondents, 54% support women's right to choose, while 38% remain negative about abortions, with only 78% among pro-life voters supporting abortion in extreme cases, like rape and risk of health.



べふ電信会社 (Bianjie Telegraph Agency, or Befu Denshin Kaisha; BTA or BDK) is the national press agency of Bianjie, headquartered in Gemun, created in 5374. (@BianjieTelegraphAgency)