Luxembourg officially enshrines abortion rights in constitution

MPs voted for the second time on Tuesday on putting the protection of women’s rights into the constitution

Alexandra Thill
June 16, 2026

Lawmakers on Tuesday voted to officially enshrine abortion rights in Luxembourg’s constitution, rubber-stamping a decision made earlier in the year, which makes the Grand Duchy the second country in the world to protect women’s reproductive rights in its highest laws.

“I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that we are making history today,” Marc Baum, from the left-wing Déi Lénk party told MPs in his speech in parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

Continued: https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/luxembourg-officially-enshrines-abortion-rights-in-constitution/157310179.html

16.06.2026

News

abortion law reform

Déi Lénk party

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

Finnish ruling party backs constitutional protection for abortion rights

June 7, 2026

HELSINKI (Xinhua) -- Finland's ruling National Coalition Party (NCP) on Sunday backed a proposal to enshrine abortion rights in the Finnish Constitution, following a vote at its party congress in Jyvaskyla, Finnish public broadcaster Yle reported.

The initiative was submitted by the NCP Women's League. It calls on the party board to work for adding abortion rights to the constitution and urges the party's ministers and parliamentary group to promote the move.

The decision came two weeks after the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) adopted a similar position at its party congress in Tampere.

The SDP added to its political program a line saying that abortion rights must be secured and that the aim is to enshrine them in the constitution in the future.

Source: https://english.news.cn/20260608/f1360079842440b186aff110c07f6f36/c.html

07.06.2026

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abortion law reform

National Coalition Party

Andorran minister says abortion will be decriminalized before next election

The country's co-heads of state are a Catholic bishop and the French president.

Edgar Beltrán
Jun 03, 2026

An Andorran minister said Monday that the decriminalization of abortion in the country will be approved before parliamentary elections are held next year, amid negotiations with the Catholic Church in the principality.

The Andorran minister of institutional relations, Ladislau Baró, said in a Jun. 1 interview that the proposal to decriminalize abortion in the country is finished but thorny negotiations with the Holy See might delay the bill.

https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/andorran-minister-says-abortion-will

03.06.2026

Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat

Australia – Abortion battles erupt in two states

New legislation in QLD and NSW could impose further hurdles on health practitioners providing medical terminations.

02 June 2026
By Alyssa Talakovski

Dual threats to abortion care have emerged in both QLD and NSW, sparking pushback from GPs and nurses alike.

The Medicines and Poisons (Medicines) Amendment Regulation 2026 would enable more nurses and midwives in Queensland to administer the medical termination pill MS2-Step.

But Katter Australian Party leader Robbie Katter has lodged a disallowance motion against the amendment.

Continued: https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/abortion-battles-erupt-in-two-states/126176

South Australia – Third attempt to change SA’s abortion laws since 2024 goes before state parliament

By Thomas Kelsall and Kathryn Bermingham
May 20, 2026

South Australia's parliament is set to debate restrictions on late-term abortion for the third time in less than two years.

Anti-abortion campaigners are hopeful the newly elected upper house, comprised of three new One Nation members, will pass the legislation.

Upper house MLC Sarah Game, formerly of One Nation and now an independent, introduced legislation on Wednesday to place new limits on abortions after 25 weeks.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-20/bill-to-change-abortion-laws-goes-before-sa-parliament/106701906

20.05.2026

SA Abortion Action Coalition

Sweden – Constitutional right to abortion and increased opportunities to limit freedom of association and right to citizenship

Wednesday 20 May 2026

The Government proposes, among other things, that the right to adoption [they mean abortion] be introduced to the Instrument of Government as a new fundamental right and freedom. The Riksdag has voted in favour of adopting the Government’s proposed amendments to the Instrument of Government, pending a second decision.

The Government’s proposals mean, among other things that:
the right to abortion will be introduced as a new fundamental right and freedom in the Instrument of Government;

Continued : https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/articles/2026/may/20/constitutional-right-to-abortion-and-increased_cms88ff4597-fcb1-454e-8189-a968f250d186en/

20.05.2026

News

abortion law reform

enshrining abortion rights in constitution

UK – MPs and peers approve law to pardon women convicted over abortions as far back as 1800s

Law will also expunge police records for women arrested in England and Wales, and stop future prosecutions

Hannah Al-Othman
Fri 17 Apr 2026

Legislation to pardon women who have been convicted of illegal abortions has passed its final parliamentary hurdle, paving the way for a landmark change in the law in England and Wales.

The amendment to the crime and policing bill, which will also expunge the police records of those arrested and investigated over illegal abortions, was considered in the House of Lords during a phase of parliamentary ping-pong, where a bill passes back and forth between the Lords and Commons.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/17/law-pardon-women-convicted-abortions-passes-uk-parliament

17.04.2026

News

1861 Offences against the Person Act

abortion law reform

Crime and Policing bill

Global community urges Nepal to reform laws on abortion, child marriage

The call comes as Nepal reviews key recommendations received during the fourth cycle of the UPR, with a focus on legal identity, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Nepali culture insights

By REPUBLICA
March 22, 2026

KATHMANDU: The international community has urged Nepal to reform laws ranging from abortion to child marriage and to strengthen implementation of its human rights commitments under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The call comes as Nepal reviews key recommendations received during the fourth cycle of the UPR, with a focus on legal identity, gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Continued : https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/global-community-urges-nepal-to-reform-laws-from-abortion-to-child-marriage-78-36.html

22.03.2026

News

abortion law reform

Binod Chandra Devkota

Forum for Women Law and Development

Meera Dhungana

Rojina Shrestha

United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review

UK – Lords vote to pardon women convicted of having an illegal abortion

Peers also rejected an attempt to overturn the move by MPs to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancy.

Abbie Llewelyn
Thursday 19 March 2026

The House of Lords has backed a move to pardon women who have been convicted of having an illegal abortion.

The amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would also apply to women who were cautioned and would remove the women’s details from police systems, regardless of the outcome of the case.

It comes after a landmark move by MPs in June last year to decriminalise women terminating their own pregnancy.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mps-blackstone-sarah-mullally-bill-b2941478.html

19.03.2026

Crime and Policing bill

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Tonia Antoniazzi

who chairs the trustees of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

UK – Decriminalising abortion: how could the House of Lords amend the legislation?

After MPs voted last year to change the law in England and Wales, members of the Lords will now put forward proposed amendments

Hannah Al-Othman
Sun 15 Mar 2026

MPs voted last year to end the criminalisation of women who terminate pregnancies outside the legal framework. It was hailed as the biggest step forward for reproductive rights in England and Wales in six decades.

On Wednesday evening, abortion law will again come under the parliamentary spotlight when members of the House of Lords put forward their proposed amendments to the legislation.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/15/decriminalising-abortion-england-wales-lords-amendments

15.03.2026