Honduras is just days away from approving an extremist law that would put teenagers in prison for using the morning-after pill, even if they've just been raped. But we can stop this law and ensure women have the chance to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Some Congress members agree that this law -- which would also jail doctors or anyone who sells the pill -- is excessive, but they are bowing to the powerful religious lobby that wrongly claims the morning-after pill constitutes an abortion. Only the head of the Congress, who wants to run for the Presidency and cares about his reputation abroad, can stop this. If we pressure him now we can shelve this reactionary law.

The vote could happen any day -- let's show Honduras that the world won't stand by as it jails women for preventing pregnancy even after sexual violence. Sign the urgent petition calling on the President of the Honduran Congress to stand up for women's rights. Avaaz will work with local women's groups to personally deliver our outcry:

PETITION: http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_prison_for_contraception_global/?tta

A few countries, including Honduras, have banned the emergency contraceptive pill, which delays ovulation and prevents pregnancy -- like ordinary birth control pills. But if this new bill passes, Honduras will be the only state in the world to punish the use or sale of emergency contraception with a jail term. Anyone -- teenagers, rape victims, doctors -- convicted of selling or using the morning-after pill could end up behind bars, in flagrant contravention of World Health Organisation guidelines.

Latin America already has too many tough laws which restrict women's reproductive rights. The Honduras Congress first passed this draconian measure in April 2009, but just a month later then-President José Manuel Zelaya bowed to pressure from campaigners and vetoed it. Then Zelaya was removed in a coup, and the new regime has taken a sledgehammer to the country's judicial processes and forced the bill back to a vote.

Time is short, but we can stop this awful proposal in its tracks. Congress has the final vote on the matter and the government doesn't want to risk its already fragile global reputation. Let's tell the President of the Congress not to make Honduras the region's most repressive country against women.

SIGN THIS URGENT PETITION: http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_prison_for_contraception_global/?tta

Emergency contraception is vital for women everywhere, but especially where sexual violence against women is rampant, unplanned pregnancy rates are high and access to regular birth control is limited. Let's stand with the women of Honduras and help them stop this bill.

With hope and determination,

Alex, Laura, Dalia, Alice, Emma, Ricken, Maria Paz, David and the whole Avaaz team

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• Click here to leave a Facebook comment for the President of the Honduran Congress: http://j.mp/johfaceboooktta
• Click here to send him an email: http://j.mp/johgmailtta
• If the email link above doesn't work, you can send him an email: joh@juanorlandohernandez.com)

Use these points to write your message, or -- ideally -- write in your own personal style. Remember to remain polite.

• Don't criminalize women who need emergency contraception or the doctors who provide it.
• Your proposed law would make Honduras the only country to jail people for using or selling the morning-after pill.
• If you pass this extremist law, you risk condemnation across the world, and may endanger your presidential campaign.

Thanks again for your help,

The Avaaz team

P.S. Help spread the word about this campaign by sending the email below to friends and family, and post this link on your Facebook wall: http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_prison_for_contraception_global/?tta

MORE INFORMATION:

• Honduras Supreme Court upholds absolute ban on emergency contraception (ReproRights): http://reproductiverights.org/en/press-room/honduras-supreme-court-upholds-absolute-ban-on-emergency-contraception-opens-door-to-crim
• Honduras, most sweeping ban on emergency contraception anywhere (RH Reality Check): http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/02/14/honduran-supreme-court-upholds-complete-ban-on-emergency-contraception-0
• Women's rights under attack with Honduran coup (LatinoPolitics): http://latinopoliticsblog.com/2009/11/16/women%E2%80%99s-rights-reproductive-freedoms-under-attack-with-honduran-coup/
• The legal status of emergency contraception in Latin America (Hevia M.): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22088410
• The prohibition of emergency contraception in Honduras is inadmissible (WLW): http://www.womenslinkworldwide.org/wlw/new.php?modo=detalle_prensa&dc=163&lang=en
• Emergency Contraception in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization): www.paho.org/english/ad/ge/emergencycontraception.PDF

Avaaz.org is a 13-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 19 countries on 6 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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