International Leaders Join Call for End to All Legal Barriers to Abortion

"Women must have the right to decide about their own bodies—that is a human right."

JULIA CONLEY, Common Dreams
June 9, 2021

Several international lawmakers and leaders joined rights activists Wednesday in a call for all legal barriers to abortion care to be removed worldwide, demanding clinics that were shut down during the pandemic be reopened and for a "global campaign of factual and unbiased information" to counter well-funded anti-choice groups.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was among the signatories of the letter organized by the SheDecides movement, as well as equality ministers from France, Canada, and Norway; Parliament members from Belgium and Zimbabwe; and international development ministers from Sweden and the Netherlands.

Continued: https://www.laprogressive.com/legal-barriers-to-abortion/

09.06.2021

Alexander De Croo

Covid-19 and abortion

decriminalisation of abortion

Malta – ‘Women should not be prosecuted over abortion’ – ADPD

By Jurgen Balzan
May 29, 2021

Decriminalising abortion is the first basic essential step, ADPD leader Carmel Cacopardo said as he insisted that the debate should centre around empathy.

“Decriminalising abortion with respect to women is the first basic essential step which requires urgent action in Malta. It is essential as women who undergo abortion need the protection of the state and not being threatened with prosecution and persecution,” Cacopardo said, criticising the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party for stonewalling the debate.

Continued: https://newsbook.com.mt/en/women-should-not-be-prosecuted-over-abortion-adpd/

29.05.2021

decriminalisation of abortion

Malta – Decriminalising versus legalising abortion: what’s the difference?

May 18, 2021
Jessica Arena

When independent MP Marlene Farrugia presented a private member’s bill proposing the decriminalisation of abortion in Malta, temperatures soared, as vested parties on both sides made the case on why abortion should or should not be legislated.

However, there is a key difference between decriminalisation and legalisation.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/decriminalising-versus-legalising-abortion-whats-the-difference.872143

Lawmaker urges Malta to stop criminalising women who seek abortions

By Emma Batha, Thomson Reuters Foundation
MAY 12, 2021

LONDON, May 12 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A Maltese lawmaker made history on Wednesday by calling for the decriminalisation of abortion in the Mediterranean island, which has one of the world’s strictest bans.

In the first such move to amend the country’s tough abortion laws, independent MP Marlene Farrugia presented a bill which would remove criminal sanctions for women who seek terminations.

Continued: https://www.reuters.com/article/malta-law-abortion/lawmaker-urges-malta-to-stop-criminalising-women-who-seek-abortions-idUSL8N2MZ4QE

12.05.2021

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Lara Dimitrijevic

Marlene Farrugia

Women on Web

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Jamaica – Church hypocrisy on abortion

Junior minister Cuthbert-Flynn lashes religious leaders for ignoring rapists, men who impregnate teens

Monday, May 03, 2021
BY BRITTNY HUTCHINSON

CHURCH leaders came in for strong lashing yesterday for their strident opposition to the decriminalisation of abortion while remaining mostly silent concerning men who rape and impregnate women and girls, often forcing them to abort the pregnancy.

Seemingly a lone voice in the parliamentary wilderness as she battles for decriminalising of abortions — pre-term removal of the foetus from the uterus — junior minister for health and wellness Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn also wants the men who put women in that situation to be punished, including being sent to prison.

Continued: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/front-page/church-hypocrisy-on-abortion-junior-minister-cuthbert-flynn-lashes-religious-leaders-for-ignoring-rapists-men-who-impregnate-teens_220538

’Historic day for women’ as abortion officially decriminalised in South Australia

Abortion advocates have welcomed the passage of laws to decriminalise the procedure in South Australia.

03/03/2021

South Australia is the latest Australian jurisdiction to formally decriminalise abortion, after the state's upper house ticked off new laws.

The passage of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill on Tuesday came after the lower house in February passed the legislation 29 votes to 15.

Continued: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/historic-day-for-women-as-abortion-officially-decriminalised-in-south-australia

Decriminalisation of abortion in Nepal: Tabooed yet crucial debate

By BANDANA UPRETI & SAMANA KAFLE
Mar 02, 2021

Abortion should prima facie be decriminalised with certain exceptions (sex selective abortion, harm to mother's body with intent to hurt foetus and others) as a crime. Decriminalisation does not mean deregulation, and the issue of abortion must be treated as a medical procedure, where the well-being of the women is placed at the centre.

Nepal adopted reproductive health rights as a fundamental right for the first time in its interim constitution 2007 (2063 B.S) under article 20(2) 'Rights of Women'. This was carried forward by the new, existing constitution, 'Constitution of Nepal 2015 (2072 B.S)' under Article 38(2). Furthermore, the Supreme Court in the (2067 B.S) case of Laxmi Dhikta vs Nepal Government clearly defined abortion as an integral aspect of reproductive health rights and women's human right and went on to say that "it is contradictory and incompatible that the issue of abortion which has emerged as a new right is still placed under the strict criminal procedure in the Penal Code (2020) under the Chapter on Homicide", and ordered to regulate the issue of abortion by promulgating separate specific legislation.

Continued: https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/decriminalisation-of-abortion-in-nepal-tabooed-yet-crucial-debate

Abortion decriminalisation bill passes Lower House after heated debate in SA Parliament

By Natarsha Kallios
Feb 18, 2021

A historic bill to decriminalise abortion in South Australia has passed the State Parliament's Lower House, following a heated and lengthy debate.

Members of Parliament were granted a conscience vote on the bill, which moves abortion from the Criminal Law Consolidation Act and into healthcare legislation.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-19/abortion-law-reform-passes-lower-house-in-sa-parliament/13169600

18.02.2021

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Criminal Law Consolidation Act

David Speirs

decriminalisation of abortion

Abortion decriminalisation bill debated in SA Parliament after weeks of community discussion

By Mahalia Carter
Feb 15, 2021

Debate has begun in South Australia's Lower House on proposed reforms to abortion laws, after legislation passed through the Upper House last year.

The Termination of Pregnancy Bill aims to shift abortion out of the criminal code and into healthcare legislation.

Continued: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-16/abortion-decriminalisation-bill-debated-in-sa-parliament/13158608

15.02.2021

decriminalisation of abortion

Katrine Hildyard

Stephan Knoll

Susan Close

Termination of Pregnancy Bill

Honduras hardened its abortion ban. These women remain undeterred

Honduran Congress put a lock on decades-old ban on abortion weeks after Argentina legalised it in landmark decision.

By Natalie Alcoba
7 Feb 2021

In the days since the Congress of Honduras hardened its absolute prohibition of abortion, the ranks of a feminist organisation that has been campaigning for decriminalisation in the staunchly conservative nation have been swelling.

The new recruits to the women’s rights group, Somos Muchas, are mostly young women between the ages of 18 and 30 who have been moved into action by recent events. For local activists, it is a sign that change is still possible in a country with some of the most severe restrictions on abortion in the world.

Continued: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/7/honduras-hardened-abortion-ban-these-women-remain-undeterred