Scottish ministers accused of failing women who cannot get later abortions

Campaigners say ‘extremely vulnerable women’ are having to travel hundreds of miles to visit English clinics

Libby Brooks, Scotland correspondent
Mon 21 Apr 2025

Campaigners have warned Scottish ministers that they are failing in their legal and moral duties as growing numbers of “extremely vulnerable women” have to travel hundreds of miles south because they cannot access later-term abortions in Scotland.

Not one of Scotland’s 14 regional health boards provide abortion care after 20 weeks except in the specific cases of foetal abnormality or threat to a woman’s life. This is despite the Scottish government promising to rectify this “explicit inequality” three years ago, and abortion being legal on broad grounds until 24 weeks across the UK.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/21/scottish-government-failing-women-who-cant-access-later-term-abortions-campaigners-say

‘Ground situation unchanged’: Delhi HC flags ordeal of survivors seeking abortion

18 Apr 2025

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court was recently displeased with its directions not being complied with by the doctors in the national capital for constituting a panel to determine the cases of sexual assault survivors seeking abortion without any delay.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma’s verdict on April 17 outlined the “unfortunate” state of affairs over the compliance of its directions passed on January 25, 2023 and November 3, 2023 through which hospitals were ordered to constitute medical boards to examine sexual assault survivors seeking medical termination of their pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.millenniumpost.in/delhi/ground-situation-unchanged-delhi-hc-flags-ordeal-of-survivors-seeking-abortion-607227

19.04.2025

News

Delhi High Court

sexual assault survivors and abortion

Illegal female infanticide on rise in Kalikot

Determination of the sex of a fetus and abortion based on the results are illegal in Nepal. Both the person conducting the test and the one requesting it can face legal action.

By Lalit Bista
April 19, 2025

KALIKOT: Determination of the sex of a fetus and abortion based on the results are illegal in Nepal. Both the person conducting the test and the one requesting it can face legal action.

However, a 28-year-old woman from Khadachakra Municipality in Kalikot recently underwent an abortion for the second time, just a week ago. She chose to terminate the pregnancy after discovering she was carrying a daughter again.

Continued: https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/illegal-female-infanticide-on-rise-in-kalikot-41-19.html

19.04.2025

News

Dr. Subhanarayan Thakur

female infanticide

sex selection abortion

Far-right Polish MEP threatens doctor with ‘citizen’s arrest’ over late-term abortion

Grzegorz Braun’s actions have been condemned by both the Polish justice minister and the country’s equality minister.

April 18, 2025
By Claudia Chiappa

Far-right European Parliament lawmaker and long-shot Polish presidential candidate Grzegorz Braun is facing a potential investigation after he stormed a hospital on Wednesday and threatened a doctor with a citizen's arrest for performing a legal late-term abortion.

Gizela Jagielska said she was signing some administrative documents when a crowd of about 30 men, led by Braun, burst into the hospital around 11 a.m. She said the men surrounded her, stopped her from leaving and told her she should be arrested.

Continued : https://www.politico.eu/article/right-wing-poland-mep-grzegorz-braun-threaten-doctor-citizen-arrest-late-term-abortion-gizela-jagielska/

Faith, sorrow and rebirth: A quest for bodily autonomy

April 17, 2025
Dr. Michée Kanda, Health System Officer, Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, access to comprehensive abortion care remains a taboo topic, enshrined in restrictive legal frameworks and rigid social norms. Although some progress has been made, cultural and religious barriers still prevent women and girls from accessing the information and care they need.

While safe medical solutions exist, their access is hampered by fear, lack of information and social rejection. In the absence of alternatives, many resort to dangerous methods or fall into depression, sometimes with tragic consequences such as suicide.

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/faith-sorrow-and-rebirth-a-quest-for-bodily-autonomy/

17.04.2025

News

bodily autonomy

Dr. Mboma

Ipas Democratic Republic of Congo

Kintambo Center of Excellence

Michée Kanda

Africa

Democratic Republic of Congo

Polish presidential candidate storms hospital protesting the ‘Anita’ abortion dispute

Paulina Mozolewska, Euractiv
Apr 17, 2025

A Polish gynaecologist was barricaded in an office for over 50 minutes as police intervened in an escalating confrontation with protestors.

Grzegorz Braun, a Konfederacja MEP and Polish presidential candidate, stormed a hospital in Oleśnica on Wednesday, 16 April, accompanied by supporters. Braun attempted a so-called 'citizen's arrest' of Dr Gizela Jagielska, a gynaecologist who performs legal abortions.

Braun accused her of murder and demanded her detention.

Continued: https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/polish-presidential-candidate-storms-hospital-protesting-the-anita-abortion-dispute/

Netherlands – Significant majority chooses to use contraception after conversation in abortion clinic

April 16, 2025
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)

For a period of one year, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport gave a number of abortion clinics extra time to have conversations about contraception, particularly with people in vulnerable situations. After these conversations, almost 70% opted to use contraception. Almost half opted for long-acting options such as an IUD, and almost one in five opted for a short-acting option such as the pill. These are the results of an evaluation by RIVM of measures to improve access to (free) contraceptives.

Continued: https://www.rivm.nl/en/news/significant-majority-chooses-to-use-contraception-after-conversation-in-abortion-clinic

16.04.2025

News

Ministry of Health Welfare and Sport

National Institute for Public Health and the Environment

Polish gynaecologists seek legal clarity after late-term abortion case sparks controversy

Apr 16, 2025
Notes from Poland

The Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP) has called on the health ministry to clarify the legal interpretation of abortion regulations following a controversial case involving the termination of a pregnancy at 36 weeks.

In a letter to health minister Izabela Leszczyna, dated 10 April, the society requested confirmation of how the phrase “termination of pregnancy” should be interpreted in cases where the mother’s life or health is at risk.

Continued: https://notesfrompoland.com/2025/04/16/polish-gynaecologists-seek-legal-clarity-after-late-term-abortion-case-sparks-controversy/

16.04.2025

News

foetal defects

Fundacja Pro-Prawo do życia

Polish Constitutional Tribunal

Polish Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians

Nigeria – Safeguarding women’s lives: The urgent case for reinstating the Safe Termination Of Pregnancy guidelines–IRISE

April 15, 2025

Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation (IRISE) has expressed the urgent need for the reinstatement of the Safe Termination Of Pregnancy guidelines

In a press release signed by the Director, IRISE, Nigeria, Omodele Ibitoye Ejeh, the group justified their request adding that Women in Nigeria have continued to face multiple barriers including legal restrictions.

Continued: https://authorityngr.com/2025/04/15/safeguarding-womens-lives-the-urgent-case-for-reinstating-the-safe-termination-of-pregnancy-guidelines-irise/

15.04.2025

News

Initiative to Resist Institutional Slavery and Exploitation

IRISE

Omodele Ibitoye Ejeh

Safe Termination of Pregnancy guideline

More than 100 anti-abortion protesters target Glasgow hospital

Apr 14, 2025
By Gemma Clark

MORE than 100 anti-abortion protesters gathered near Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Sunday evening. The event was part of the Texas-based group 40 Days for Life’s efforts to "pray to end abortion" around the world.

… Sunday's protest demonstrates just how close anti-abortion activists can still get to hospitals, and serves as a reminder of how modest the original buffer zone proposals were.

Continued: https://www.thenational.scot/news/25088171.100-anti-abortion-protesters-target-glasgow-hospital/

14.04.2025