Why Proposed Amendment to Abortion Law is Small But Significant Victory for Women’s Reproductive Rights

Why Proposed Amendment to Abortion Law is Small But Significant Victory for Women's Reproductive Rights
Although the law and the proposed amendment sound great on paper, their implementation remain tough given that abortion is still widely stigmatised in India, and there is very little awareness about the laws.

Simantini Dey
February 1, 2020

Earlier this week, the central government endorsed an amendment in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1971), raising the upper limit of pregnancy termination from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. The bill is slated to be tabled for amendment during the current session of Parliament that began on January 31.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the amendment would reduce maternity-related deaths and said, "In a progressive reform and giving reproductive rights to women, the limit of 20 weeks of medical termination of pregnancy has been increased to 24 weeks. This is important because in the first five months, there are cases where the woman concerned doesn't realise and has to go to court."

Continued: https://www.news18.com/news/india/why-proposed-amendment-to-abortion-law-may-mean-little-victory-for-womens-reproductive-rights-in-india-2482739.html


Is India’s Abortion Law Going To Get Better With 24 Weeks Upper Limit?

Is India’s Abortion Law Going To Get Better With 24 Weeks Upper Limit?

January 31, 2020
by Poorvi Gupta

This week on Wednesday, centre backed a bill that seeks to increase the upper limit of termination of pregnancy from 20 weeks to 24 weeks in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will be tabled in the upcoming session of parliament that opens on Friday, January 31.

The bill focuses on increasing access to safe and legal abortion to women on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds. It is looking at boosting the upper gestation limit for abortion and to bolster access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/indias-abortion-law-24-weeks-upper-limit


India backs looser abortion laws in boost for women

India backs looser abortion laws in boost for women

Annie Banerji
January 29, 2020

NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - In a boost to female reproductive rights, India’s cabinet on Wednesday backed giving women more time to seek an abortion in a bill aimed at helping the young, disadvantaged and the raped.

The government said the cabinet had approved extending the abortion deadline to 24 weeks from 20, with the measure set to go before a new session of parliament that opens on Friday.

Continued: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-women-abortion/india-backs-looser-abortion-laws-in-boost-for-women-idUSKBN1ZS20B


India – Cabinet okays bill to raise upper limit for abortions to 24 weeks

Cabinet okays bill to raise upper limit for abortions to 24 weeks

29 Jan 2020
Neetu Chandra Sharma

The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill that proposes to permit the termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks from the existing 20 weeks. The bill will be introduced in the ensuing budget session of Parliament.

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 aims to expand access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds. The proposed amendments include substitution of certain sub-sections and insertion of certain new clauses under some sections in the existing Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, with a view to increase the upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions and to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cabinet-approves-mtp-amendment-bill-11580292606660.html