Abortion access in Thailand hampered by stigma and limited resources

Sunday, 27 Nov 2022

BANGKOK (The Straits Times/ANN): After finding out in 2020 that she was five weeks pregnant, Kiri (not her real name), then 24, knew she wanted to get an abortion. “It was quite a clear option for me,” said Kiri, who had just started a new job and was not ready to be a mother or get married.

But the process took a lot longer. Not knowing any local abortion avenues, it took her three weeks of research, calls and refusals before she finally secured an appointment to terminate the pregnancy in another province, a two-hour drive from her home in Bangkok.

Continued: https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/11/27/abortion-access-in-thailand-hampered-by-stigma-and-limited-
resources

Will the world abort women’s rights after death of Roe v. Wade?

BY ELLEN WULFHORST, THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
Nov 24, 2022

PATTAYA CITY, THAILAND – Women and girls around the world will suffer a knock-on effect from the U.S. decision to roll back abortion rights, experts say, predicting a global clampdown on hard-won female freedoms.

From access to abortion to voting rights, equal pay to equal status, women from Africa to Asia to Europe are expected to feel the fallout of the U.S. decision to reverse Roe v. Wade.

Continued: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/11/24/world/women-rights-abortion/

BY ELLEN WULFHORST, THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION
Nov 24, 2022

From access to abortion to voting rights, equal pay to equal status, women from Africa to Asia to Europe are expected to feel the fallout of the U.S. decision to reverse Roe v. Wade.

Continued: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/11/24/world/women-rights-abortion/

Women’s Groups Fight for Better Access to Abortion in Thailand

November 9, 2022
By CTN News

Although Thai law was revised last year to allow abortions up to 12 weeks and again this year under some conditions up to 20 weeks, it remains difficult for Thai women to obtain a free and safe abortion.

“If you believe that abortions have become available for all pregnant women who wish to exercise their legal right to an abortion, you are mistaken,” Tamtang Group founder and coordinator Supecha Baotip remarked.

Continued: https://www.chiangraitimes.com/news/abortion-in-thailand/

Abortion is now legal, but why is it so difficult to get one in Thailand?

November 8, 2022

Although Thai law was changed last year to allow the termination of a pregnancy up to 12 weeks and again this year with some conditions to up to 20 weeks, it remains difficult for women in Thailand to get a free and safe abortion.

“If you think abortion services have become available for all pregnant women who want to exercise their right to a legal abortion, you are wrong,” Tamtang Group’s founder and coordinator Supecha Baotip said.

Continued: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/abortion-is-now-legal-but-why-is-it-so-difficult-to-get-one-in-thailand/

Thailand’s New Abortion Access Law Is Part of a Bigger Trend

BY SANYA MANSOOR
OCTOBER 27, 2022

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry legalized abortions up to the 20th week of pregnancy on Thursday—an extension of a previous law which allowed termination of pregnancy within the first 12 weeks.

That 12-week allowance came as a result of a law expanding abortion rights enacted last year. These laws are a massive step for a country that criminalized abortion as recently as February 2020, when The
Constitutional Court of Thailand ruled that anti-abortion laws are unconstitutional.

Continued: https://time.com/6225758/thailand-abortion-access/

Thailand – Safe abortion is a must

EDITORIAL, BANGKOK POST
4 OCT 2022

The recent move to permit abortions for women who are 12–20 weeks pregnant puts the pendulum swinging in the right direction for rights groups in Thailand. Yet, the policy is far from providing sufficient safe and legal abortion services to those who need them.

The amendment to Section 305(5) of the Criminal Code that regulated the elective termination of pregnancy will come into effect at the end of this month after changes were codified and gazetted on Sept 26. The country now allows women 12–20 weeks pregnant to seek medical consultation at state hospitals before being allowed to receive legal abortion services.

Continued: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2406480/safe-abortion-is-a-must

04.10.2022

Editorial

Featured

abortion law reform

Dr Ekachai Piensriwatchara

lack of abortion information

Medical Council of Thailand

National Human Rights Commission

Thailand abortion law

Thailand – Unsafe abortion prevention added to national healthcare system

PUBLISHED : 4 OCT 2022
MONGKOL BANGPRAPA

The government has added unsafe abortion prevention services to the national healthcare system, to assist Thai women of all ages who find it necessary to terminate their pregnancy.

Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said on Tuesday that the government was aware of the problem of unplanned or unintended pregnancies. A considerable number of pregnant women were forced to terminate their pregnancy, with the inherent danger of an unsafe abortion.

Continued: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2406733/unsafe-abortion-prevention-added-to-national-healthcare-system

04.10.2022

Featured

News

National Health Security Office

Rachada Dhnadirek

unsafe abortion prevention services

2021: Changes in abortion laws worldwide

Poland has virtually banned abortion, and the United States is also looking at tightening restrictions. But other countries, like Thailand and Benin, have started to loosen their restrictive measures. An overview.

29.12.2021
Ines Eisele

Access to abortion has become easier over the decades, according to Leah Hoctor, the senior regional director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights. She said that, with some exceptions, the global trend clearly points at liberalization. Several countries saw developments on the controversial issue over the last year.

Mexico: Penalizing abortion ruled unconstitutional
In September, the Supreme Court in Mexico, Latin America's second most populous country, declared an absolute ban on abortion unconstitutional. The right of women to reproductive self-determination is to be valued more highly than the protection of the fetus, the court said. With the ruling, the judges overturned an abortion ban in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/2021-changes-in-abortion-laws-worldwide/a-60280568

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

Explained: What are the amendments in Thailand’s abortion law

The opposition to abortion comes mainly from Thailand’s majority of conservative Theravada Buddhists who believe that abortion goes against the teachings of Buddhism.

Written by Mehr Gill
January 29, 2021

On Monday, Thailand’s Parliament voted to make abortion during the first 12
weeks of pregnancy legal. Before this, abortion was illegal in the country,
regardless of the duration of the pregnancy and was allowed only in limited
circumstances governed by the country’s medical council.

This week, another country made an announcement dealing with abortion laws. On
Wednesday, the right-wing Polish government said it will publish a court ruling
that proposed a near-total ban on abortion in its journal. This ruling banned
termination of pregnancies including of foetuses with defects. The government’s
sudden announcement has sparked countrywide protests in the country, where
abortion laws were already very strict.

Continued: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-are-the-amendments-in-thailands-abortion-law-7166734/

29.01.2021