Sweden Defends Support for Legalizing Abortion in Liberia

The Government of Sweden has disclosed that it remains steadfast in supporting pro-choice activists and funding campaigns that advocate for the legalization of abortion in Liberia even though it “respects the views of religious leaders” who oppose abortion.

The Swedish position, which was made known by Ambassador Urban Sjöström, comes a few days after members of Liberia’s Religious Council strongly criticized the Swedish Embassy in Liberia for funding campaigns that push for the legalization of abortion in Liberia. 

The Council’s remarks comes as the Senate is currently debating an amendment to the Public Health Law to make abortion legal after coming under intense pressure from the Amplifying Rights Network, a coalition of ten civil society organizations, which is supported by the Swedish government and has been pushing and holding campaigns for decriminalization of abortion.

“Yes, Sweden supports decriminalization of abortion, as recommended in WHO’s 2022 Abortion Care Guideline, which recommends the full decriminalization of abortion,” Sjöström said in response to an email from the the Daily Observer seeking comments.   

“Sweden recognizes that this is a complex issue in Liberia and in many countries and respects the views of the leaders of faith based organizations in Liberia. But the ongoing process to revise Liberia’s public health law is a domestic endeavor that follows the integrity and independence of Liberia’s law making process. Sweden applauds the initiative and supports CSO’s who stand behind the bill and will continue to support them in their important work. 

Abortion is illegal in Liberia as per the current law and, on the moral front, is considered a sin by the majority of Liberians who identify as Christians and Muslims. By law, it is prohibited in all forms, with a few exceptional cases such as when the life or health of the mother is at risk. The law affirms the views of many religious leaders and is reflective of the predominant ethnic and cultural values within the country.

However, abortion rights advocates, including the Amplifying Rights Network, argue that legalization is necessary for women’s reproductive rights and to reduce maternal mortality rates in the country. They believe that criminalizing abortion puts women’s lives at risk as the practice never gets stopped. 

The Amplifying Rights Network’s claims are supported by a recent report by Clinton Health Access Initiative and partners, in which it was revealed that more than 38,000 illegal abortions were performed in 2021 alone. 

The number, according to the report that was authored by organizations that advocate for abortion rights, would be higher as more cases of abortion in Liberia go unreported.

Yet, religious leaders and critics disagree and argue that legalizing abortion undermines the sanctity of life and contradicts religious and moral teachings. A key concern for many religious leaders is the focus solely on the perceived benefits without fully considering the social and moral implications. 

In their view, the emphasis should be on improving healthcare services to combat maternal mortality rates, not abortion. They argue that Liberia is a country of morals; therefore legalizing abortion will drive the country into a dark era. 

The religious community, which consists mainly of Christians and Muslims, holds a huge number of the country’s population.  

“It is widely known that the government of Sweden, for example, has been a major player in this push for abortion to be legalized here, but we are Liberians, not Swedish,” said Rev. Gabriel Jubwe, an influential member of the Council during a Senate hearing on the abortion amendment to the public health law. 

“Legalizing abortion is an attack on mothers, unborn children, and society as a whole. We, therefore, call for the complete withdrawal of the abortion provision in public health.”

The Swedish Embassy, along with several international organizations, has been actively promoting the legalization of abortion by supporting local pro-choice activists and funding campaigns that aim to change the existing laws on abortion in Liberia.

Their actions, according to the Council which represents various religious denominations in the country, are a direct attack on the deeply-rooted cultural and religious values of the country. The religious body characterizes the support for making abortion legal as an imposition of Western values.

But Sjöström appeared to disagree and told the Daily Observer that access to safe and legal abortion has been identified as a critical intervention by the Ministry of Health of Liberia to tackle maternal deaths, one of the highest in Africa.  

He argued that while Sweden applauds and encourages CSOs pushing for the legalization of abortion, the “ongoing process to revise Liberia’s public health law is a domestic endeavor that follows the integrity — and independence of Liberia’s law-making process.”

Sjöström noted that the Ministry is leading this process and Sweden supports and applauds the Ministry for its leadership. 

Meanwhile, Sweden is the second largest bilateral donor to Liberia and supports Liberia in democracy, human rights, gender equality and the rule of law; peaceful and inclusive societies; inclusive economic growth and environment, climate change, and the use of natural resources.