In November 2006 a law was adopted in Nicaragua banning abortion under any circumstances, even in the case of rape, incest or high-risk pregnancy, with penalties of up to 30 years' imprisonment for those guilty of infringements. Until then the Nicaraguan Penal Code allowed abortion if a woman's life was at risk.

Because they fear being prosecuted under this law, which criminalises therapeutic abortion, women do not apply to the health services if they suffer complications during pregnancy and doctors refuse to provide the treatment needed. The entry into force of the law is having tragic consequences and its impact on the lives and health of women is devastating. It has already caused a large number of preventable deaths — according to the organisation Human Rights Watch 82 women have already died.

Restricting women's access to appropriate medical treatment constitutes a clear and unacceptable violation of human rights, in particular the right to life, personal dignity, physical integrity, health protection, freedom, non-discrimination and equality. In view of the fact that the European Union is founded on universal values such as human dignity, democracy, freedom, equality and human rights, which it promotes and protects both inside and outside the Community, and in view of the fact that the situation described above is incompatible with such values, what steps will the Commission take in response to this serious violation of women's human rights?