Thailand legalises early abortions; pro-choice groups want more

TAmendments expected to come into force this week, placing Thailand among more liberal Southeast Asian nations on reproductive rights.

By Zsombor Peter
9 Feb 2021

Thailand’s parliament has passed changes to the country’s criminal code, giving women full abortion rights in the first trimester of their pregnancy, almost a year after a top court ruled that existing curbs ran counter to the constitution.

Pro-choice groups have met the move with muted praise. They say the amendments do not go far enough and warn that many women may still turn to risky illegal abortions unless the government also commits to raising awareness and expanding access.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/9/thailand-legalises-early-abortions-pro-choice-groups-want-more


Planned Parenthood Hails New Law Allowing 12-week Abortion

By Khaosod English
November 19, 2020

BANGKOK — A leading family planning organization on Wednesday welcomed a legal amendment that would allow abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and protect doctors who perform the operations from prosecution.

The change to Thailand’s Criminal Codes was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, and is expected to come into effect by February 2021. A spokesman for the Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand said the protection of rights to abortion would help save women from undergoing unsafe prodecures to terminate their pregnancy. 

Continued: https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/11/19/planned-parenthood-hails-new-law-allowing-12-week-abortion/


Thailand – Abortion in first 12 weeks to be allowed

PUBLISHED : 17 NOV 2020

The cabinet has approved a law amendment bill that allows women with pregnancies of not more than 12 weeks to get an abortion.

If approved by the House of Representatives early next year, the bill will let such women have abortion if they “insist on terminating the pregnancies”.

Continued: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2021147/abortion-in-first-12-weeks-to-be-allowed


Thailand: Abortion legal for Thai birth defect cases linked to Zika, officials say

Thu Oct 6, 2016 | 3:51am EDT

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre | BANGKOK, Reuters

Predominantly Buddhist Thailand will relax its strict rules against abortion to cover fetuses with proven birth defects linked to the Zika virus, health officials said on Thursday, doubling to 24 weeks a deadline for the procedure.

Thailand last week confirmed its first known cases of microcephaly linked to the mosquito-borne virus. The two cases of the birth defect marked by a small head were the first in Southeast Asia, following Zika outbreaks in the Americas

Health experts who met this week to draft guidelines for expectant mothers with Zika concluded that abortions can be carried out at up to 24 weeks in case of serious birth defects.

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Source: Reuters