Abstract The right to access abortion services as an integral component of the right to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has been increasingly recognised in the field of international human rights law. However, much more progress is necessary to realise this right in practice. The work of the United Nations human rights bodies and more recently the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has been instrumental in signalling the importance of the legal framework and in setting clear guidelines to steer countries into reforming national laws in order to comply with their international obligations. This article explores the extent to which the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy and the amendment Bill submitted by the African Christian Democratic Party comply with International Human Rights Norms. Our analysis reveals that (i) the South African state has fallen short in adopting a legal framework that complies with the International Human Rights Norms and (ii) the proposed bill would constitute a retrogressive measure and its adoption would violate the state’s obligations under international human rights law. In sum, this article makes an argument for the modernisation of the South African abortion law and for careful vigilance of the proposed legislative amendments.

中文翻译：

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国际人权规范和南非关于终止妊娠法的选择：保持警惕和现代化的论据

摘要 获得堕胎服务的权利作为性与生殖健康权 (SRH) 的一个组成部分，在国际人权法领域日益得到承认。然而，要在实践中实现这一权利，还需要取得更多进展。联合国人权机构以及最近非洲人权和人民权利委员会的工作有助于表明法律框架的重要性，并有助于制定明确的指导方针，引导各国改革国家法律，以遵守其法律框架。国际义务。本文探讨了非洲基督教民主党提交的终止妊娠选择和修正案在多大程度上符合国际人权规范。我们的分析表明，(i) 南非国家未能通过符合国际人权规范的法律框架，以及 (ii) 拟议的法案将构成倒退措施，其通过将违反国家根据国际人权规范承担的义务。权利法。总而言之，本文为南非堕胎法的现代化和对拟议的立法修正案保持警惕提出了论据。