Abortions on the rise and birth rate decreasing in Gaza

Gaza health authorities have warned of a drastic increase in abortions and a drop in birth rates as a result of the ongoing crisis in the territory following two years of Israeli aggression.

December 31, 2025

The Director General of the Ministry of Health in the coastal enclave, Munir Al-Barsh, announced a decrease in the number of newborns of up to 40% annually.

He considered that this indicator reflects the depth of the health and humanitarian crisis the sector is experiencing.

Continued; https://www.plenglish.com/news/2025/12/31/abortions-on-the-rise-and-birth-rate-decreasing-in-gaza/

31.12.2025

Scotland – MSP writes to Google over free ads for anti-abortion groups

Dec 28, 2025
By James Walker

AN MSP has written to Google after The Sunday National revealed that the tech giant has been giving free advertising to anti-abortion groups targeting pregnant women in Scotland.

Our investigation found that several crisis pregnancy helplines covertly run by anti-abortion organisations benefitted from the Google Ad Grants programme in 2025 – a scheme which gives nonprofits up to £7000 per month of free search advertising. This included Life, which ran ads offering free pregnancy tests (below) while simultaneously promising to “offer support while you wait”.

https://archive.is/9PqBT
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25724191.msp-writes-google-free-ads-anti-abortion-groups/)

28.12.2025

News

anti-choice ads

crisis pregnancy helplines

Google ads for anti-choice groups

Officials feared Irish women travelling for abortion could be prosecuted on return

In wake of X case and 1992 referendum, EU travel rules created headaches for Government

Órla Ryan
Sun Dec 28 2025

Government officials were concerned that, in the wake of the X case, women who left Ireland to access abortion services overseas could face penalties when they returned, newly released documents show.

A cabinet briefing document also raised concerns that any injunction preventing women from travelling from Ireland to another EU country for a termination could breach the recently ratified Maastricht Treaty and its guarantees on freedom of movement within the bloc.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/history/2025/12/28/officials-feared-irish-women-travelling-for-abortion-could-be-prosecuted-on-return/

28.12.2025

News

1992 referendum in Ireland

Maastricht Treaty

travelling to England

Anti-abortion group ‘gives talks and plays’ at Scottish schools

Dec 28, 2025
By James Walker

CONCERNS have been raised over an anti-abortion group giving talks and plays at Scottish schools. The Scottish arm of The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), which has received US funding, claims in its latest filings with Companies House that it has “provided educational talks and drama productions” to school children across the country.

The Sunday National sent an FOI request to every council in Scotland, with two (Inverclyde and East Dunbartonshire) so far confirming that the group has recently visited schools in their area.

https://archive.is/grEGB
(https://www.thenational.scot/news/25724244.anti-abortion-group-gives-talks-plays-scottish-schools/)

28.12.2025

News

Gillian Mackay

Society for the Protection of Unborn Children

Nigeria – Choosing survival over tradition, women turn to modern contraceptives

December 28, 2025
By Janet Ogundepo

For a fruit vendor, Mrs Kehinde Alimi, family planning transformed more than her health; it rescued her business and her future.

The mother of four said she was introduced to the family planning services after the birth of her second child and began with the 13-week long-acting, reversible injectable contraceptive, Depo-Provera injection.

Continued: https://punchng.com/choosing-survival-over-tradition-women-turn-to-modern-contraceptives/

Feminist backlash grows against Puerto Rico law threatening abortion rights

By EFE
27/12/2025

San Juan.— Feminist groups in Puerto Rico are mobilizing against a new law recognizing the unborn as a natural person, warning it could threaten abortion rights despite privacy protections.

The legislation was enacted this week by Governor Jenniffer González and has led to strong reactions from activists, legal experts, and medical professionals.

Continued: https://www.impactomedia.com/nacion/puerto-rico/feminist-backlash-grows-against-puerto-rico-law-threatening-abortion-rights/

27.12.2025

News

abortion law reform

Aborto Libre Puerto Rico

Alondra del Mar Hernández

Colectivo Ilé

María de Lourdes Santiago

2025 Was a Year of Chaos for Reproductive Rights Under the Trump Administration

Project 2025 initiated a war on reproductive rights that could escalate into even higher gear in 2026.

By Lauren Rankin , Truthout
December 27, 2025

With a decidedly anti-choice Trump administration taking office at its start, 2025 was poised to be yet another brutal year for abortion rights. Advocates feared the imminent resurgence of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that made it a criminal offense to share contraceptives, abortifacients, and information about either across state lines or through the mail.

As of now, the last month of this very difficult political year, that is yet to happen.

Continued: https://truthout.org/articles/2025-was-a-year-of-chaos-for-reproductive-rights-under-the-trump-administration/

Senegal: Where women’s bodies belong to everyone but themselves

The religious argument is often used to justify control over women

By Bowel Diop (translated from French)
27 December 2025

In Senegal, women who are victims of rape can be condemned for trying to take control of their lives by having an abortion.

Like many other African countries, Senegal ratified the Maputo Protocol on December 27, 2004, an African Union treaty that promotes and protects the rights of women and girls across Africa. According to the provisions of Article 14, signatory states must:

Continued: https://globalvoices.org/2025/12/27/senegal-where-womens-bodies-belong-to-everyone-but-themselves/

27.12.2025

Commentary

African Assembly for the Defence of Human Rights

International Federation for Human Rights

Maputo Protocol

patriarchy

rape and abortion

Senegalese League of Human Rights

INDIA – Gujarat HC hears abortion plea of raped minor from Dahod

Application withdrawn after girl is abducted again during proceedings; police register new case

Dec 26, 2025

An application was filed before the Gujarat High Court from Dahod seeking permission for the termination of an eight-week pregnancy of a minor aged 14 years and six months. The pregnancy followed an alleged rape, for which a complaint had been registered at Dhanpur Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

… However, during the hearing on December 26, a significant development was brought to the court’s attention. The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that, while the matter was still pending, unknown persons had allegedly abducted the minor girl once again.

Continued: https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/local/gujarat/news/hc-hears-abortion-plea-of-raped-minor-from-dahod-application-withdrawn-after-girl-abducted-again-during-case-136779433.html

26.12.2025

Protection Of Children Against Sexual Offences

China social media thrashes one-child policy after population control czar dies

Peng Peiyun, the former head of China’s one-child policy, in Beijing in 2005

Dec 25, 2025

The death of a former head of China’s one-child policy has been met not by tributes but by castigation of the abandoned policy on social media this week.

State media praised Peng Peiyun, head of China’s Family Planning Commission from 1988 to 1998, as “an outstanding leader” in her work related to women and children.

The reaction on China’s social media to Peng’s death in Beijing ‍on Sunday, ⁠just shy of her 96th birthday, was less positive.

Continued: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/25/asia-pacific/society/china-one-child-social-media/

25.12.2025