MANAGUA – After more than two years of public-awareness campaigns, political lobbying and frustrating legal battle, Nicaraguan human-rights activists are more hopeful than ever that the government's draconian ban on therapeutic abortions will be overturned by the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.

The Supreme Court on Feb. 19 announced that it was done hearing arguments and debate and is prepared to hand down its final ruling on last year's legal motion challenging the ban on life-saving abortions for women.

Sandinista and Liberal legislators outlawed therapeutic abortion Oct. 26, 2006, in a measure rights activists called a shameless electoral ploy by both parties to pander to the church vote on the eve of the presidential elections. The ban was then upheld the following year in the country's new Penal Code, which entered into force July 10, 2007.

The new law makes Nicaragua one of only five countries in the world to criminalize abortions to prevent childbirth that could kill the mother.

Rights leaders filed a bevy of legal challenges against the new Penal Code, arguing that it was in violation of women's rights to life, health and human dignity.

The issue also became the first major wedge between the government of Daniel Ortega and the European community, prompting several European countries to suspend or restructure their aid programs to Nicaragua.

The Nica Times has learned from inside sources that the Supreme Court is expected to finally hand down its ruling before breaking for Easter Holy Week recess on April 6. Rights leaders say new indications from the government suggest the ruling could go their way – a scenario that seemed impossible just several months ago.

Read an upcoming issue of The Nica Times print edition for the full story.