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Home , Antifeminism, Reproductive rights

Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark

Volume 1 Article 1

October 2015 Reproductive in : A Case Study of Guatemala and Katherine W. Bogen Clark University

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Recommended Citation Bogen, Katherine W. (2015) " in Latin America: A Case Study of Guatemala and Nicaragua," Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark: Vol. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://commons.clarku.edu/surj/vol1/iss1/1

This Manuscript is brought to you for free and open access by the Scholarly Collections & Academic Work at Clark Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark by an authorized editor of Clark Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Reproductive Rights in Latin America: A Case Study of Guatemala and Nicaragua

Cover Page Footnote Thank you to Professor Posner, of the Clark Political Science department, who provided methodological guidance as well as literature for this study, and whose intellectual support and passion helped lead this project to its' completion.

This manuscript is available in Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal at Clark: https://commons.clarku.edu/surj/vol1/iss1/1 - - - - - According to a Gallup world to a Gallup According penetration, the religious aspects penetration, the religious been society have of Nicaraguan in preventing aggressive much more including reforms, health women’s of the rights. Te presence has provided in Guatemala Church necessary support for new women’s mortality late has declined since the a problem it remains 20th century, espe and Guatemala, in Nicaragua societies and cially among religious ethnic minority groups. low-income, poll conducted in 2009, 84% of and 88% of adults in Nicaragua consider reli adults in Guatemala gion an important part of their daily Global (Gallup respectively lives, superf 2009). Despite Reports of religious cially similar degrees - Katherine W. Bogen W. Katherine While the prevalence of maternal While the prevalence in Latin America have contributed in Latin America have to very high maternal mortality rates and Nicaragua. in both Guatemala 2010, the Central Intelligence In as having Agency ranked Guatemala the 65th worst maternal mortality rate in the world with 120 deaths per 100,000 . Te same year, was ranked 77th worst Nicaragua with 95 deaths per 100,000 mothers Agency 2010). (Central Intelligence Parenthood work to enhance ac work Parenthood cess to birth and education control services worldwide, some nations in the face still at a disadvantage are of crippling social conservatism as a sentiment. More of religious result access to restricted importantly, abortion services and contraceptive - - - issues, women’s rights, reproductive healthcare, and international reproductive reproductive and international healthcare, rights, reproductive issues, women’s health policy. Katherine Bogen is a senior studying Political Science, English, with a concen with Science, English, is a senior studying Political Katherine Bogen disciplines these three uses She American and Latino Studies. tration in Latin Tesis on women’s her Honors issues. Katherine completed to examine global regimes on the efect of authoritarian health, primarily focusing reproductive Katherine and Chile. Brazil, in , transition movements and democratic of and sexual as a tactic on the use of research has done additional in in mentoring relationships on gender and race research and independent , Katherine hopes to pursue a Ph.D and business settings. After Clark, university social to contribute to her understanding of feminist Health or Public in Policy Reproductive Rights in Latin America: America: in Latin Rights Reproductive A Case Study of Guatemala and Nicaragua of Guatemala Study A Case Te purpose of this paper is lack of basic services, politics, or war. lack of basic services, politics, or war. like Planned Although programs sexual healthcare and information is sexual healthcare Par to Planned blocked. According of poverty, enthood, this is a result many individuals around the world, the world, many individuals around and access to vital reproductive e T divisions on a national level. Are We Who Parenthood Planned that for mission statement declares and Guatemala, and their rela and Guatemala, tionships to the socio-political and as class cultural ideologies, as well to examine the success of reproduc in Nicaragua rights movements tive Statement and Research and Research Statement Question and a subsequent reduction in each nation’s maternal mortality rate. in each nation’s and a subsequent reduction – Purpose Introduction result, women of Nicaragua and Guatemala are falling below the development goals of organizations such as the human development falling below are Guatemala and women of Nicaragua result, access to birth universal control to ensure (UNFPA) Fund Nations and the United Parenthood Planned orts have been made over the past half-century to initiate dialogue on the failure of medical care in the past half-century of medical care to initiate dialogue on the failure eforts made over been have rights. Some reproductive rights. Te women’s issues of maternal mortality and reproductive these nations to adequately address As a solution to this problem. an efective struggled have to reach and Guatemala of Nicaragua health movements ical healthcare problems. Moreover, rural and underprivileged women in Guatemala and Nicaragua are facing greater greater facing are Nicaragua and rural and underprivileged women in Guatemala Moreover, problems. ical healthcare limitations to birth in the global struggle access, demonstrating a classist aspect control for female reproductive Abstract crit creates and Guatemala and legal abortion Nicaragua Te lack of access to contraceptives for women throughout 1 Social Sciences Social Sciences 2 ------A literature review of repro review A literature ese themes indicate that Tese themes indicate ations evaluated the severity of the severity ations evaluated health reproductive unmet women’s needs. A study of health sector Health guidelines in Reproductive Te Central Intelligence Matters, Agency 2010 – Country Compar Rate, a Mortality ison, Maternal Methods health journals, women’s ductive health and rights journals, and public gender and development especially when pertaining to abor class is also clear that tion rights. It divisions and inequalities within have and Guatemala Nicaragua limited the capacity of rural greatly and indigenous women to access eforts must birth Finally, control. re of women’s continue in the area to guaran order rights in productive access to contraceptives tee universal results and abortion. Tese research and analyses can be used to shape to body- social approaches as to rights as well and reproductive maternal mortality. reduce and the current alienation of fem alienation of and the current rights move reproductive inist and political parties major ments by in an unwavering represents Nicaragua of abortion a dismissal and rejection which is of female body-autonomy, of women defned as the freedom of their bodies as to decide the fate As a result, as their . well have women in Nicaragua more turned to illegal abortion to leading potentially in complications and the maternal mortality rate. creasing women’s the social stance towards rights can greatly reproductive impact the capacity of governments reforms. to pursue progressive case the Nicaraguan Furthermore, demonstrates the limiting efect on sentiment can have that religious rights movement, the reproductive ------Conversely, in Nicaragua, a in Nicaragua, Conversely, orts in Guatemala and Eforts in Guatemala . Te passage of this law pregnancy. in both cul Catholic presence strong reduced and politics has greatly ture its capacity to pursue progressive In reforms. healthcare reproductive passed Latin Amer fact, Nicaragua most restrictive ica’s in 2006, forbidding even in instances of rape, impregnation incest, or for those whose lives by a full-term by may be endangered tality have established a socio-polit established tality have ical dialogue on the importance of Tis shift female health and safety. of condemnation one in focus from of female sexuality to protection of and bodies may access to and utilization of increase that birth services, control proving solutions to this health issue are in Latin America. achievable century to provide education, century to provide birth and post-abortion control, care to women, it still has not succeeded in the in legalizing abortion except case of maternal endangerment. is access to contraceptives Moreover, limited for women living in rural ar in a class separation eas, representing rights reproductive the Guatemalan in initiatives However, movement. mor maternal to reduce Guatemala Background and Preliminary and Preliminary Background Discussion access to establish greater Nicaragua to birth and abortion control in the number of to reduce order in maternal mortalities varied have their success. Although Guatemala has taken strides since the late 20th reasons why Nicaragua has been why Nicaragua reasons class diminish their own unable to this says as what as well divisions, impact of socioeconomic about the in the felds of reproduct inequality health. rights and women’s ive - - - In addition to discrepan In the gap in reproductive healthcare healthcare the gap in reproductive the upper and between availability I explore classes. Additionally, lower rough my research, I examine how how examine I research, my Trough has been able to decrease Guatemala quality reproductive healthcare healthcare quality reproductive the nation in both throughout and high-income areas. low-income made vast strides in recent years to years strides in recent made vast capacity to the nation’s strengthen distribute birth higher and control aspects of life, even pregnancy and pregnancy aspects of life, even has Guatemala However, healthcare. ering more than the elite, sufering more are demonstrating the pervasiveness all of class divisions throughout advocates of female body-autonomy advocates rights. Te poor and reproductive and Nicaragua in both Guatemala is tension has fostered a repressive a repressive Tis tension has fostered for underprivileged environment reduced access to reproductive rights access to reproductive reduced other but also political apathy from both nations. within ethnic groups from pre-existing ethnic conficts. As ethnic pre-existing from such, women belonging to indi genous minorities sufer not only er from both nations sufer from Nicaragua, high rates of income inequality and substantial class division resulting both nations. While Guatemala has While Guatemala both nations. a larger indigenous population than divisions have also caused a partition also divisions have of the women’s in the advancement in rights movements reproductive the efects of cies between class and Nicaragua, in Guatemala been able to utilize religion to pursue religion been able to utilize their political objectives. Nicaragua and Guatemala, why the and Guatemala, Nicaragua varied have of each nation reactions country each how and has so greatly, search project seeks to discover how how seeks to discover project search has afected the infuence of religion in rights movement the reproductive and more widespread widespread birth and more control re My . of availability reproductive rights legislation by legislation by rights reproductive of availability greater for advocating - - – - - - – A – Abortion used used – Abortion Decades of political unrest of political unrest Decades – Mixed-race or Hispanicized or Hispanicized – Mixed-race reproductive rights. Much of the rights. Much reproductive demonstrates that while literature religious strong both societies have in and infuence, religion presence instru has been more Nicaragua the growth mental in suppressing and success of the reproductive Literature Review Literature and Nicaragua plagued and war have putting both of these na Guatemala, health limited for risk greater at tions services access to birth and restricted and abortion.control Although has had nearly a decade Nicaragua and a half longer than Guatemala Guatemala to adjust to democracy, has been able to pursue reproduct while still in the health reforms ive midst of a civil war and has been strides able to take much greater access to birth and control towards that the fetus has birth defects. Aspiration Vacuum Manual that uses surgical abortion procedure uterine contents. suction to remove called the Sandinistas) are a socialist a socialist are Sandinistas) called the party participated but have in demo plurality and hold a cratic elections parliament. in Nicaragua’s (UNO) Union Opposition National of fourteenA loose coalition political parties in the 1908s to that united for the political competition provide FSLN. UNO politically dominant and is considered is largely centrist, the large ideolo fragmented due to its coalition gical disparities between parties. Ladina peoples. Ladina women tend to have lighter skin than indigenous women. Abortion Terapeutic that endangers to end a pregnancy the life of the or in the case - - - - – - - - – A Nicaraguan leftist – A Nicaraguan – Te UN Agency re For the sake of clarity and For Nicaragua in 1979. Te FSLN (also Nicaragua especially healthy pregnancy and especially healthy pregnancy birth. Te mission of the UNFPA that every is is to ensure pregnancy wanted, every birth safe, and every potential is fulflled. person’s young Liberation National Sandanista (FSLN) Front organization founded in 1962 that of the participated in the overthrow dictatorship in Somoza repressive out this research paper. paper. out this research Rate (MMR) Maternal Mortality rate of deaths due to com National ,plications from usually in number of deaths per measured births.100,000 live Fund Population Nations United (UNFPA) health, sponsible for reproductive fnitions De with necessary the reader to provide is a list of defned below vocabulary, key-terms that will appear through to reproductive rights and health rights and to reproductive As such, an MSSRD approach care. to re to this study lends validity a useful, outcomes and creates search approach. theoretical comparative these nations provide useful parallels these nations provide of development in examining the and their rights movements women’s human develop ability to improve as maternal ment indicators such similarities Te nations’ mortality. of variables for the control allow of the strengths such as the relative and the efect of socioeconomic inequality on access is demonstrates the tendency of the tendency Tis demonstrates to ad Nicaragua and Guatemala the use through social problem dress and social economic of responsive the aforementioned Given policies. countries, experiences of both shared ------It is clear from the following the following is clear from It is methodology is based Tis methodology is enced sweeping economic reforms economic reforms enced sweeping in the past half-century with a focus on agrarian economic reformation. insurgency training. Finally, both insurgency training. Finally, experi and Nicaragua Guatemala ofcial military backing and received substantial support United the from counter which provided States, sides identifed with either leftist each or conservative ideologies. In case, the right-wing maintained were decidedly political in wars were that the oppositional given nature, and Nicaragua have been engaged have and Nicaragua of in bloody civil wars as a result Both civil socio-political unrest. distrust of abortion and contracep within the practices. Moreover, tive both Guatemala past half-century, tive rights and has contributed to a tive suspicion and of social atmosphere research that the infuence of the research afected has greatly Catholic Church reproduc social attitudes towards to increase access to contraceptives contraceptives access to to increase abortion.and legalize condemns abortion, may negatively move afect the capacity of women’s and Nicaragua ments in Guatemala der hierarchy upheld by traditional by upheld der hierarchy conservative Catholicism, which 16th century consequently and were to adopt Catholicism as their forced Te strict gen dominant religion. provide the rationale for this research research the rationale for this provide and Nicara design. Both Guatemala in the Spain by conquered gua were histories of each nation and their histories of each nation atmospheres modern socio-political Research Systems Similar on a Most e political (MSSRD). T Design rights publications have provided provided have rights publications study and furtherthe basis for this analysis. number of additional academic of additional academic number journal articles reproductive and USAID Health Policy Initiative Initiative Policy Health USAID as a I, as well Order Task 2008 – 3 Social Sciences Social Sciences 4 - - - - - and de Valle’s point Valle’s fman and de Shi Sara Netzer and Liz Mallas, of the and Liz Mallas, Netzer Sara Initiative, Policy USAID Health and that these legal reforms propose would advancements medical care been possible without the not have community support of the religious due to the pervasiveness of religious endangerment. perspect a policy from is reiterated and Reproductive in “Religion ive the author Here, Rights.” Health of “strategy states that UNFPA’s establishing ties with the highest authorities of the Catholic Church has led to the passage of a law that health be mandates that reproductive as an integral part the of recognized policies” development government’s support 2005). Te Church’s (Obaid education of sex and contraceptive the way for has paved in Guatemala such as reforms, progressive more to Access the 2006 Universal as a national ef law as well Planning in post-abortion care fort to improve (Kestler, both rural and urban areas 2006). and Silva Valle Del Valencia, man and de Valle point Valle de fman and Shi reforms. the approached “UNFPA out that (in Gua bishops leading Catholic as an positioning the bill temala), infant and maternal efort lower to rather than as an initiative mortality, and to promote these health. Using reproductive the support secured tactics, UNFPA could hardly of the bishops, who fman and (Shi object to these goals” 2006, 73). Tis implies that Valle de in health movement the reproductive on a defense framed itself Guatemala safety of maternal life and women’s rather than on a platform of birth Tis new frame . control was instrumentalwork in reducing condemnation and suspicion cultural of birth and has helped to es control social stance accepting tablish a more on abortion in the case of maternal ------Unlike Nicaragua, the pres Nicaragua, Unlike ceptance toward reproductive ceptance toward fant and maternal mortality. Jeremy Jeremy fant and maternal mortality. de Garces fman and Ana Lucia Shi discuss this strategy of promot Valle demonstrating by ing health reforms eforts politicians and po made by the church to involve litical groups of a congressional in the approval health. Tis bill on reproductive bill would go on to establish more health laws reproductive progressive as newas well cultural attitude of ac in Guatemalan ence of the Church society has not succeeded in re re women’s the of success the ducing Rather, rights movement. productive women’s on Guatemalan literature was health suggests that Guatemala authority to able to use religious support for a campaign advocating sex education and availability greater in to lower of birth in order control progressive advocates for women’s for women’s advocates progressive state rights on current reproductive only does the literature Not policy. demonstrate the infuence of the on societal conservatism,Church but it also suggests that the Church enough is powerful in Nicaragua to shape state policies and greatly women’s for greater hinder prospects decreased rights and a reproductive maternal mortality rate. (Chinchilla 1990, 371). Chinchilla’s 371). Chinchilla’s (Chinchilla 1990, more statement supports Kane’s assertion that political partyrecent cultural pre coalitions and the Catholic Church dominance of the political caused Nicaragua’s have conser more platforms to become during the than they were vative and revolution left-wing Sandinista impact of the weakened greatly have the advocates of a more traditional traditional of a more the advocates silence on on women in its position of birththe questions sex control, and abortion…(aeducation, concept often equated with and shared Church)” to that of the Catholic ------Although the women’s re Although the women’s Kane (2008) asks that of the FSLN from the reproduct of the FSLN from rights cause, stating that the ive to conciliate party has “appeared ary-era FSLN, Chinchilla (1990) digression demonstrates a recent initially rights movement productive had support the revolution from a restrictive socio-political agenda a restrictive and pervasive family values regarding anti-abortion sentiment. organizations afliated with the establishes and Catholic Church” global anti- with global anti-feminist movement links to like-minded organi strong zations in other countries, especially uence of leftist, pro-choice the infuence of leftist, pro-choice addition, Kampwirth In advocates. of a (2008) identifes the “emergence the center-left and more conservative the center-left and more this has decreased parties. As a result, majority has weakened the wom majority has weakened rights movement reproductive en’s establishing ties between through this argument, Kane implies that the necessity of political coalitions to gain a representative in Nicaragua as political coalitions as factors in rights the reproductive weakening making In in Nicaragua. movement ship between the Catholic Church the Catholic Church ship between as well Protestants and Evangelical health of the women’s proponents consider the partner movement and sex education were minimally were and sex education of the presence due to the promoted 1991). (Wessel church for men and women, but studies for men and women, indicated that contraceptives have of life ( Publication Publication Nations of life (United 1987 Nicaragua’s 1993). Conversely, equal rights constitution advocated and authorized the performanceand authorized of to therapeutic abortions in order or loss harm to the mother prevent 17-73, which advocated for greater greater for advocated 17-73, which healthcare women’s of availability rights movement. In 1973 Guatem 1973 In rights movement. Decree Congressional ala passed ------However, “the political and “the However, Because of severe class sep of severe Because has prevailed in pursuing health has prevailed pregnan practices that emphasize rather than abortion cy prevention in seen an improvement and have a health rates and rural reproductive in the national MMR as reduction specif care, of preventative a result designated more reproductive health reproductive designated more options, as politicians and lobby about concerned more are groups and pleasing the elites in Guatemala to likely to succumb thus more are their demands. other options, economic elite have ofering clan clinics such as private destine abortions, which diminishes their need to support progressive and Richard (Birn policy changes” un essence, wealth son 2011). In to push for policy the desire dercuts of reproductive in the areas reform en an oppressive rights, creating for change and greatly vironment the capacity of repro decreasing to succeed. health reforms ductive of inequality the prevalence Despite Guatemala society, in Guatemalan more likely that their post-partum likely that more well- occur in a sterile, does not care hospital environment. equipped ethnic due to in Guatemala arations divides and rural/urban separations, women indigenous Guatemalan healthcare diminished sufer from According and quality. availability and Birn to Anne-Emmanuelle contributors to Richardson, Emma Reproductive the academic journal Guatemala, “In Matters, Health twice as are indigenous women likely as non-indigenous women to causes. die due to pregnancy-related the region women across Indigenous face triple based on and socio-eco ethnicity, gender, and Richardson (Birn nomic factors” also demon 2011). Te literature strates that the upper-class are ------Comparable to the challeng than non-Mayan women as it is than non-Mayan and Silva 2006). Some literature also literature 2006). Some and Silva suggests that the quality of repro in Guatemala healthcare ductive Studies depends largely on ethnicity. 20 percent that “Only shown have in health women deliver of Mayan of to 58 percent facilities, compared fman and (Shi ladinas in Guatemala” 2006). Tis statistic implies Valle de women in Guatemala that Mayan a much higher potential MMR have planning services unsuitable have and neonatal conditions for prenatal distribution of contracep treatment, (Netzer and post-abortiontives, care the 2008). Similarly, and Mallas maternal mortality rate in rural areas is 83% higher than of Guatemala demonstrating the MMR overall, in quality of care the discrepancies developed ruralbetween and more Valle Del Valencia, settings (Kestler, to es of class division and inequality health movement the reproductive is the disparity in in Nicaragua rural between and urban Guatemala on barriers Te literature healthcare. reform health against reproductive states that rural areas in Guatemala bias toward sufer a huge provider indigenous women, and that in family many cases facilities providing tion about maternal mortalitytion about maternal rates and health been publicized have focused on publiciz campaigns have statistics depicting ing the upsetting of deaths resulting the high number self-induced abortions,from Nicara a push to address gua has witnessed such as radical feminist issues, more abortion rights and contraceptives (Chinchilla 1990). further divide, per widens the class that cycle a reproductive petuating the ruralforces and underprivileged to in order children more to have Despite prosperity. economic achieve informa as more these inequalities, ------In addition to this class sepa In e literature on reproduct Te literature diminishing the drive in the lower in the lower diminishing the drive classes to obtain accessible birth 1983). Tis methods (Harris control more children in order to survive in in order children more and capitalist society, a competitive the small population in the interests the small population in the interests that meaning of economic growth” women need to have low-income urbanized society children’s labour society children’s urbanized surviv contributes to the ’ augment to is policy al…government erful, elite factions of Nicaraguan erful, elite factions of Nicaraguan importantly “because More society. ual rights are seen as bourgeois or ual rights are not counter-revolutionary have and pow gained support the more from nect between the Nicaraguan lower lower the Nicaraguan nect between and middle-classes and the Nicara many cases, individ guan elite. In discon is an ideological ration, there inequality in accessibility and a lack inequality in accessibility and a lack for the availability of contraceptive 1991). urban poor (Wessel indicates that maternal mortality rural much higher in re are fgures gions than in urban, demonstrating tions in Nicaraguan hospitals while tions in Nicaraguan this same women do not have poorer the literature Furthermore, luxury. ally illegal, women with enough abor to receive money can aford men than the underprivileged, rural women or ethnic minor Nicaraguan ities. Although abortion is technic data has suggested that reproductive that reproductive data has suggested abortionrights, especially rights, are wo to wealthy available far more been hindered by class divisions and by been hindered Nicaragua, In income inequality. ive health reforms in both countries health reforms ive success of women’s suggests that the have rights movements reproductive productive rights (Netzer and Mallas Mallas and (Netzer rights productive 2008). of restrictive social environments environments social of restrictive and re contraception concerning beliefs regarding family planning family beliefs regarding as a history as well in Guatemala 5 Social Sciences Social Sciences 6 ------As demonstrated by Figure 1, Figure by demonstrated As Sadly, Daniel Ortega is not Daniel Sadly, e Church has caused Te Church Nicaragua. an ideological shift further to the right in the construction of catch-all decreasing greatly parties, thereby of progressive, the political power leftist organizations and proponents rights reproductive of the women’s religious vote, he has consequently he has consequently vote, religious the reproductive reduced greatly women. Figure rights of Nicaraguan 1 illustrates the population separa Chris Evangelicals, tion between Nicaragu tians, and Non-Religious these beliefs help to ans, and how establish political bases for support: and Catholics in 1997 Evangelicals sup split between nearly evenly were port for the FSLN and the UNO. Tis accurately illustrates the need of religious the FSLN to cater to more to maintain constituencies in order evidence that and provides power political coalitions, res broad-based of the the involvement ulting from have society, in Nicaraguan Church been detrimental to the women’s in rights movement reproductive to champion the cause of women’s women’s the cause of to champion rights. reproductive so-called “revolutionary” the only the Sandinista During to do so. in Catholic church “the revolution, many pre-revo prevented Nicaragua lutionary advocating from Christians Christians birth Progressive control. and supported the Sandinistas, want to alienate the FSLN did not Over 1991, 538). (Wessel them” Christian, are 65% of Nicaraguans Catholic with a majority Roman Christianity a close and Evangelical second: politicians such as Daniel to use this attempted Ortega have ideology Christian popularly shared to unite his base of support through the utilization of generically Chris While this rhetoric. tian religious the Ortegacapture to has allowed ------Current politics in Nicaragua politics in Nicaragua Current of center-Left Nicaraguan politicians of center-Left Nicaraguan Ortega supported abortion during quickly his frst presidency…and abandoned that position – and his wider support for the women’s – when it became clear movement that doing so was politically expedi (Kane 2008, 366). Ortega, a ent” popular FSLN candidate, has for repro saken the cause of women’s of political rights in favor ductive demonstrating the failure re-election, form to the consolidation of political form to the consolidation of political for the FSLN by Support power. such as ideological groups religious has been Catholics and Evangelicals instrumental in its pursuit of polit has and infuence. It ical prestige that years in recent become obvious of political history “politi regardless support for abortion cannot cians’ necessarily be counted on, if the political risk. issue involves body-autonomy. Even the FSLN, Even body-autonomy. the political party that championed feminist causes during the Sandinista sec fnitions” (see “de revolution tion), has succumbed to the polit wide-based of forming ical pressure conservative coalitions with more Christian factions. shifted Te goals of the FSLN have from since the end of the revolution re and progressive ductive rights movement. Daniel Daniel rights movement. ductive of Ortega, president incumbent enacted Latin America’s Nicaragua, health reproductive most restrictive which in 2006. Tis reform, reform of abortionseliminated legality even abortions,in the case of therapeutic the interna by has been criticized tional community for its blatant of and female rejection ments toward women’s reproductive reproductive women’s ments toward rights. fect the efect of reli re accurately ex by state politics and, gion on to the repro tension, the obstacles ------Data and analysis have indi and analysis have Data parities have caused Guatemala and caused Guatemala parities have diferent to institute vastly Nicaragua move trajectories in their respective in Nicaragua has remained strict has remained in Nicaragua and laws concerning abortion have stringent. Tese dis more grown aragua has not undergone this same to birth control cultural shift. Access to birth control, post-abortion care, to birth post-abortion control, care, established dialogue on the and have rights. Nic necessity of reproductive diminish. Subsequently, rates of ma diminish. Subsequently, and ternal mortality decreased have access experienced freer women have Guatemala’s societal condemnation Guatemala’s of birth and abortions control to shift the cultural dialogue from a shift the cultural dialogue from to a reduction defense of procreation in maternal mortality has allowed NGOs advocating for greater focus for greater advocating NGOs health and the ability on women’s to of political actors in Guatemala and to increase the availability of availability the and to increase birth Te establishment of control. settings greatly decrease each na decrease settings greatly capacity to establish a success tion’s rights movement ful reproductive condemnation of abortions, and is ethnic sues of class inequity between as rural urban as well versus groups mation and education pertaining to and cultural birth religious control, contraceptives are socio-political. socio-political. are contraceptives of contraceptive rejection Public lack of infor practices, restrictive post-abortion care and to distribute and to distribute post-abortion care the birth to patients. Rather, control to access with improving problems abortion. Clinics are equipped abortion. are Clinics for medical treatments to deliver cated that Nicaragua and Guatemala and Guatemala cated that Nicaragua to provide do not lack the capacity access to birth and control greater Research and Results Research care (Kestler, Valencia, Del Valle and Valle Del Valencia, (Kestler, care 2006). Silva ective sex sex ective use, ef cally contraceptive and better post-abortioneducation, ------In addition to religious addition to religious In rough widespread edu widespread Trough

healthcare and the resultant reduc and the resultant healthcare tion in MMR. rights challenges, the reproductive has faced in Nicaragua movement difculties due to class and ethnic a neces remains divisions. Tere support of religious institutions for support religious of the use of birth Guatemala control, its mater has been able to reduce nal mortality rate immensely since 3 illustrates the de 2001. Figure cline in maternal mortality rates in between and Nicaragua Guatemala a twenty-year 1990 and 2010. Over MMR estimate span, Guatemala’s the number of deaths by (measured birthsper 100,000 live annually) 40 deaths. Although by was reduced that this is a direct one cannot prove support for the of religious result liter maternal health movement, speculates that without the ature authorities in support of religious rights the reproductive Guatemala, been able would not have movement health policies to enact the women’s maternal necessary for improved tion was to ensure that “all persons that “all to ensure tion was planning access to family receive services,it defnes as includ which sexual counselling, ing information, health education and reproductive of family planning and the provision Rather than (UNFPA). methods” the of restriction, pursuing a policy has cho of Guatemala government a policy of prevention sen to follow the number of to reduce in order and the ma unwanted pregnancies ternal mortality rate of Guatemala. statis 2 demonstrates recent Figure use in tics on teenage contraceptive illustrating that nearly Guatemala, pop the male of three-fourths has access to ulation in Guatemala – data on use for is not available. however, Nicaragua, use and cation about contraceptive ------Te trajectory of Guatema law. Te goal of this new legisla law. to remove barriers to access and has to remove sex education, preg emphasized and birth control. nancy prevention, rights movement reproductive la’s that of Nicaragua. from difers vastly Nicaraguan 2006, the same year In Ortega passed a Daniel president law making all abortions illegal, the passed the of Guatemala Congress Planning to Family Access Universal cation for Guatemalan youth. More More youth. cation for Guatemalan and the goal of UNFPA importantly, rights groups other pro-reproductive safe mother has been to “encourage hood and to uphold the dignity of afrming their women and men by moral capacity to make personal decisions concerning their own 2005, 1170). (Obaid reproduction Te focus on safe motherhood and has helped personal responsibility fashion ground-breaking initiatives initiatives fashion ground-breaking health and reproductive to improve 2005, 1170). UN (Obaid lives” save in Guatemala’s involvement FPA’s assisted health planning reproductive Moth the passage of the 2001 Safe erhood bill, which has led not only contraceptive widespread to more women, but use for sexually active sex education for efective also more edu and contraceptive young Population Fund) in the hopes of in the Fund) Population establishing a counterweight to against birththeological arguments and abortion instead control by health of pregnant emphasizing the has such religion mothers. Because infuence on politics a profound has “UNFPA in Latin American, institutions religious with partnered and faith-based organizations to lish a religious base of support for lish a religious rights movement, the reproductive in the authorities Church enlisting maternal mortality lower quest for been cham is goal has rates. T Nations (United UNFPA pioned by ------Unlike the Nicaraguan case, the Nicaraguan Unlike An additional result of the result An additional ment. has been able to estab Guatemala and politicians in Nicaragua on the and politicians in Nicaragua rights move reproductive women’s within Nicaragua. Tis illustrates the within Nicaragua. further detrimental efect of conserv organizations religious pro-life ative, en’s reproductive rights, as doing reproductive en’s so may seem politically risky given the conservative, Christian islation, nor are politicians fnding islation, nor are the political will to uphold wom women’s essential rights to life and essential women’s not women are health. Nicaraguan leg by being adequately protected e T Parenthood). (Planned tions” 2006 bill is limiting reproductive rights that could help guarantee and unhygienic conditions that leave and unhygienic conditions that leave them susceptible to fatal complica restrictions and limits on medical restrictions women turn “many advancements, to illegal abortion in often unsafe made in the Nicaraguan medical medical made in the Nicaraguan post-abor community to improve harsh of these As a result tion care. in life-or-death situations, but it also in life-or-death situations, but it also MMR. contributes to Nicaragua’s efort is not being Furthermore, disturbing precedent for reducing for reducing disturbing precedent for women available the healthcare strued as an abortion, and subjected (Kane 2008, to criminal penalties” only does this establish a 364). Not treatment for an ectopic pregnancy pregnancy for an ectopic treatment haemorrhaging or post-menopausal – fearing that these may be con are unwilling to perform emergen are – such as cy obstetric procedures tion medical care. Under the ther Under tion medical care. is apeutic abortion ban, “evidence providers emerging that health-care increase in the number of illegal, number of illegal, in the increase unsafe abortions that has in a nation its post-abor to improve not worked 2006 Nicaraguan anti-abortion 2006 Nicaraguan to an fact that it has led bill is the movement. movement. 7 Social Sciences Social Sciences 8 ------Although Nicaragua and Although Nicaragua Trials such as these demon such as these Trials Conclusion still need to incorporate Guatemala rights access to reproductive greater procedures for pregnant and sexually for pregnant procedures women. active ical leaders in Nicaragua, human human ical leaders in Nicaragua, rights activists worldwide, including organizations such as the UN, con tinue to place international pressure to of Nicaragua on the government therapeutic on the restriction reduce politics on birth Recently, control. Amer rights in Latin reproductive the witnessed a shift from ica have anti-abortion focus due to informa “for tion sharing, which has allowed, the frst time, details of the type and to number of complications related …to be recorded” 2006, 144). Te publication (Kestler cultural em of this data has bred pathy for women without access to safe birth methods and has control a new idea of the necessity promoted care, preventative of contraceptives, medical sex education, and improved a healthcare movement based on pre on based movement healthcare a in order maternal safety and vention Figures mortality. maternal to reduce results illustrate the and eight seven that the indicating of the program, is not Guatemala medical sector of upon only capable of improving but , reproductive current succeeded on a that it has already trial basis. is still hope for the strate that there rights move reproductive women’s Although ment in Latin America. both are and Nicaragua Guatemala nations with power highly religious ful conservative factions, the mater nal mortality rates in both countries dec two past the over decreased have preventative of better ades as a result the and sex education. Despite care infuence of Christianity on polit ------Unlike Nicaragua, the gov Nicaragua, Unlike availability, the trial hoped to spark the trial hoped to spark availability, incomplete abortions were admit incomplete abortions were (Kestler, ted to the 22 hospitals,” 2006, and Silva Valle Del Valencia, such medical procedures, 138). New aspiration, were as manual vacuum used in these trials and the provision of family planning and contracep to women leaving the hospital tives focusing In both increased. were on family planning counselling of contraceptive and improvement upper class. in ernment and medical community has made serious eforts Guatemala Between such inequality. to reduce of of 2003 and December July was spearheaded to 2004, a program the quality of post-abortion improve servicescare in 22 public district During Guatemala. hospitals across “13,928 women with the program, lance of physical autonomy. Figure Figure lance of physical autonomy. bias six demonstrates the inherent re Guatemalan within the current – indigen health system productive less women received ous Guatemalan medical atten of the than one third tion that Ladinas did in 1998-1998 and less than half of all Guatemalan women, illustrating that the current health reproductive Guatemalan Guatemala’s favors system inherently unquestioned publicly, and priv unquestioned publicly, choices, who have ileged individuals, and (Birn the problems” can ignore 2011). Tose women Richardson pro secret these who cannot aford left to sufer the efects are cedures classist, restrictive of discriminatory, Guatem policies while wealthy political alan women circumvent and maintain some semb protocol ord clandestine to aford able elites are an “escape abortions which creates lower which the from scenario valve” “a Terefore, excluded. classes are persists, whereby discourse’ ‘double ofcial policy is conservative and ------Like Nicaragua, rural areas rural areas Like Nicaragua, for the elite classes. Although abor except tion is illegal in Guatemala, in the case of therapeutic abortions, for necessary reproductive health health for necessary reproductive Te same cannot be said resources. Valle and Silva 2006). Indigenous 2006). Indigenous and Silva Valle women still sufer the brunt of this inequality and lack of availability the number of maternal deaths es birthstimated at 651 to 100,000 live Del Valencia, (Kestler, nationwide” Republic of Guatemala. In rural In of Guatemala. Republic with the ratio was 83% higher, areas 2000 survey in Guatemala, “shows “shows 2000 survey in Guatemala, a maternal mortality ratio of 153 birthsdeaths to 100,000 live in the er from classist also sufer from of Guatemala and and discriminatory reproductive A availability. maternal healthcare women’s reproductive rights. reproductive women’s inatory, class-dependent nature of class-dependent nature inatory, and the inher health care, women’s and wealth ent connection between have twice as many skilled birthinghave to the compared attendants present discrim the 20%, revealing poorest illustrate the direct relation between between relation illustrate the direct health care. and improved wealth also Te richest 20% of Nicaragua attendants available during the birthattendants available also fve and four Figures process. ing women in labor. In a ratio of urban In women in labor. living women to rural, Nicaraguan as many skilled twice in cities have ve demon fve four and Figures youth. rural between strate the inequality of doctors for and urban availability limited information and education limited information women and materials for Nicaraguan er from unsuitable sufer from Nicaragua providing conditions and facilities family planning services as as well tablished the tools for mending these the tools for mending tablished 2012, 165). inequalities (Bastian of ruralLike rural areas Guatemala, ous women with tools to question with tools to ous women es but has not yet relations” unequal sity in Nicaragua to recognize that to recognize sity in Nicaragua indigen provided has “ ------surjatclarku.com Acknowledgements Katherine would like to thank Pro Univer of Clark Posner fessor Paul department Science for Political sity’s Note on the to all fgures refer Please of this articleonline version at abortions annually, and inequity of abortions annually, classes. In social between healthcare to gain international esteem order as a nation dedicated to democratic and ideals, politicians in Guatemala must summon the polit Nicaragua these controver ical will to address ough it rights issues. T sial women’s may be challenging and potentially detrimental to their party in the short run, it will beneft their nation them in the long run and will allow to engage in international dialogues on human rights and to assert their democracy, success as a developed hu international to adhere to willing man rights standards. democracies, their unwillingness their unwillingness democracies, the critical healthcare to address casts women their nations’ needs of for order such claims. In doubt on and of Guatemala the governments to be wholly democratic, Nicaragua policies that they must establish rights of their uphold the human right to safe including the citizens right to equality, motherhood, the healthcare. and the right to adequate for would be politically expedient It and of Guatemala the governments to portray as themselves Nicaragua democratic, modern, and dedic and ated to principles of freedom these principles However, equality. limited by challenged inherently are a healthcare, access to reproductive in maternal mor limit which results infant mortal tality and morbidity, of thousands of unsafe hundreds ity, ------Finally, it is essential that Finally, Additionally, discussion of Additionally, ough they claim to be developing Tough they claim to be developing international organizations continue and on Guatemala to apply pressure to meet human devel Nicaragua opment goals such as the reduction of maternal mortality rates as well of access to as the improvement abortion and contraception. Essen human rights are reproductive tially, rights, and the denial of such rights and Nicaragua draws Guatemala political position. into a precarious detrimental to the success of the and Nicara Te Guatemalan party. complicit guan political systems are necessity of as the in this failure, political opposition to gain coali tions means that most controversial such as abortion political measures, the from legislation, will be excluded a success to ensure dialogue in order ful coalition. the support of religious and moral the support of religious their policy goals authorities to allow to gain moral . in Guatem of politicians the failure to engage in ala and Nicaragua legislation reform reproductive illustrates a critical lack of political con will in these nations to address issues out of fear that to do troversial so will be politically risky and largely healthcare to take on the vocabularyhealthcare norms. From of traditional gender discussed, one may the research to subvert order conclude that in reproduc oppressive the current system reproductive healthcare tive must be willing to rights movements gender discourse adopt a traditional to make political gains. in order to enlist they must be able Moreover, to challenge the gender hierarchy on the gender hierarchy to challenge and Nicaragua’s which Guatemala largely systems are socio-political in when framed based. However, of safe motherhood, the context reproductive allow these movements ------e above research demon research Te above tion practice and contraceptive use. tion practice and contraceptive seen are such movements Essentially, as they work as highly transgressive, unsuccessful, even inviting social and unsuccessful, even condemnation of abor religious conservative nations. When dis conservative nations. cussed in terms of female autonomy largely or feminism, these eforts are efortsimportancevital the illustrates of subject framing when discussing health in Catholic or reproductive Guatemala’s capacity to engage the Guatemala’s in safe maternity Catholic Church strates some critical fndings in health politics of the reproductive First, and Nicaragua. Guatemala munity beliefs about family plan ning, contraception, and abortion. tion and education, and the shaping tion and education, and the shaping accepting social and com of more Nicaragua ensure suitable conditions suitable conditions ensure Nicaragua for family planning facilities, com informa munication of appropriate eld of women’s the feld of women’s in diligent work women’s rights will the reproductive and of Guatemala health advocates reproductive health rights and a safer health rights reproductive for Latin socio-political environment through American women. Only classist challenges in order to estab classist challenges in order lish a new and expectation for sexual and higher standards of healthcare. of healthcare. and higher standards rights must of reproductive Issues theological or without be addressed allowing reproductive rights to be reproductive allowing of Latin can the women achieved full body-autonomy America enjoy cidental sterilization. Only through through Only cidental sterilization. and reforms adopting progressive tics such as the maternal mortalitytics such as the maternal the rate, under-age pregnancies, and ac of HIV/AIDS, prevalence aragua and Guatemala to recognize to recognize Guatemala aragua and birth control the impact of restrictive and abortion statis legislation on in both countries are ongoing. It is It ongoing. are in both countries necessary Nic societies in both for into their state legislation, further state legislation, into their health in women’s advancements 9 Social Sciences Social Sciences 10 - - - c Study of Religion, 36.3, 36.3, of Religion, Scientifc Study 2013. 9 Dec, Web. 440-454. pp. and the | Latin America “UNICEF Na | United UNICEF Caribbean.” Fund. tions Children’s 2013. 9 Dec. Web. 1993. Publications. Nations United Review A Global Policies: Abortion Nations United to Norway. – Gabon 8 Dec, Web. Studies. Population 2013. 1991. “Reproduct Lois. Wessel, the From Rights in Nicaragua: ive of to the Government Sandinistas Stud Feminist Chamorro.” Violeta 6 Dec, Web. 536-549. ies, 17.3, pp. 2013. ------Religious Identity.” Journal for the Journal Identity.” Religious Garces de Valle. 2006. “Political His 2006. “Political Valle. de Garces Mother tory in Safe and Disparities and Hon Guatemala hood between Development and Population duras.” 53-80. 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