Last month, the British government pledged to fund a drive for the greater availability of contraception for women in the developing world. It has been revealed this week that Argentina, is in dire need of such resources.

Contraception has become increasingly important for many women around the world. This is highlighted by that fact that the amount of unplanned pregnancies occurring each year is an estimated 75 million. The availability of contraception has been a priority for many nations for a few years now.

The fact is that despite the availability of contraception such as condoms and the pill, millions of women experience unwanted pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases every year.

Abortion

A recent report released by humanitarian organisation Human Rights Watch has suggested that the Argentinian government have not implemented good enough policies concerning reproductive healthcare. “The laws in Argentina are relatively good if only they were enforced”, stated the report’s lead author Marianne Mollmann.

It is thought that thousands of women in Argentina have to undergo illegal and dangerous abortions due to the lack of contraception and other reproductive healthcare services. The report even stated that 40% of all pregnancies in the country ended in abortion.

“Systematically flouted”

A law, enforcing the availability of universal contraception has actually been implemented by the government, but the report found that the law is largely ignored. “The laws are in place but they have been systematically flouted by hospitals and doctors across the country (that) refuse, either through ignorance of the law or personal decision, to provide access”, said Mrs Mollmann.

It is estimated that unsafe and illegal abortions result in around 70,000 deaths per year, worldwide.

One problem that affects Argentina is that contraception was only made available around 25 years ago. “Many people still believe contraception programmes should not exist”, Mrs Mollmann revealed.