Introduction Abortion is one of the world's greatest controversies. While many people believe it is immoral and is considered murder, others believe that it is the mother’s right to make decisions about terminating a pregnancy. Cross culturally, there are many different perspectives on abortion, that are reflected in various governmental and state policies ranging from legal types of abortion to the restriction of abortion. Nicaragua is a country that has recently passed legislation making all types of abortion illegal, including therapeutic abortion. A strong Roman Catholic and Evangelical political influence, in addition to gendered violence and discrimination against women in society, make access to sexual and reproductive health services increasingly more difficult (Planned Parenthood 2014). Throughout history, people in all cultures have been influencing fertility, including ways to increase it, reduce it, often regulate it, however the abortion law in Nicaragua has become one of the most restrictive, which without doubt violates women’s rights. This is an important area of study, as it creates a barrier of the delivery of quality medical care to women that are pregnant. Consequently, this ban has negatively impacted the maternal mortality rate, the physical and mental health of women, and the ability of medical professionals to provide care for women. Not only does this affect women’s health, it also fuels gendered inequalities, which were clearly already severe (Kulcyzicki 2011). Disregarding these negative impacts, religious influences exercised their power by strategically proposing this prohibition before the 2006 presidential election. This paper aims to examine the affects of the abortion law passed in 2006, while providing a brief outline some of some of the violations. To understand the fierce inequalities, It is important to understand Nicaragua’s economic and social status. Social and Economic Context Relative to Women In particular, it is important to briefly outline some serious social and economic issues of Nicaragua through a gendered lens. Nicaragua is considered the second poorest country in the world, leaving a majority of the accounted people in poverty. Widespread socioeconomic inequalities still exist, which impact those able to receive health care and education (Kulczyicki 2011). Many impoverished live in rural areas of the country, relying on agricultural occupations such as coffee farming and cattle ranching for their income. The weakest and most vulnerable group are those people, especially women and children, living in a fragile physical environment, characterized by less education, less access to basic social services, higher fertility and maternal and infant mortality rates, and with fewer options and opportunities. The majority of the population has received an average of five years of education, which is a result of Nicaragua’s inadequate and disjointed educational system (Vijil 2013). The health care system, of which most depend on, is comparably insufficient, leaving women uneducated and unprotected. Women in developing countries are known to have the least access to family planning services with the fewest resources to pay for safe abortion procedure. As a result, they are also the most likely to experience complications related to unsafe abortion (WHO 2012). Dangerous abortion has significant negative consequences beyond its immediate effects on women’s health, such as reduced productivity, which can increase burden on poor families (WHO 2012). Undoubtedly, the repeal of this penal code is imperative in respecting women’s reproductive rights, and to move forwards towards a greater standard of living for women. Political Power and Strong Religious Influence Throughout Latin America, religious institutions have been known to shape the environment of religious choice by disseminating information and engaging in aggressive campaigns (Burdick 2010). In Nicaragua, a place where the church holds a great deal of political power, opposing the church’s strict morals and ideals would surely mean losing the support of not only the church, but other politically influential conservative groups. According to further study, religious institutions are directly linked to influencing the 2006 election, and in effect, the law revoking therapeutic abortion rights. This can be associated with the changing social, political, and religious context of Nicaragua which will be examined largely based upon Henri Gooren’s ethnography, Ortega for President: The Religious Rebirth of Sandinismo in Nicaragua. While Ortega was once known for his political action in the past, during the election campaign he acted differently, thus campaigning himself as a new, reformed leader (Stone 2011). His new image included rhetoric of peace and reconciliation and his positive relations with all evangelical churches in Nicaragua. Shortly before the election, the church began performin