Lawless: The complete decriminalization of abortion… only in Canada

Needs No Introduction
September 3, 2025
Rabble.ca podcast: 1 hour

In our season nine premiere, we welcome Martha Paynter, nurse, scholar and author of Lawless: Abortion Under Complete Decriminalization. We discuss Canada’s complete decriminalization of abortion (the only country to do so), the fascinating and often fraught history that brought us to this point, abortion as a public good, the influence of the anti-choice lobby here and the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in the US, and what it takes to make abortion truly equitable when decriminalization is not enough.

Reflecting on the need to understand abortion as a public good, Paynter says:
“We have these major cultural forces that just reiterate this idea that abortion is rare and hard. And it’s not, it’s very normal. It’s very common and it takes seven minutes. And actually it will allow you to follow your dreams. Whether that dream is to escape a violent relationship or to finish your graduate degree or whatever. So we do need to have this shift in the way we talk about abortion. And we need to understand abortion, not just as healthcare, but as this force of good in our society.”

Continued: https://rabble.ca/podcast/lawless-the-complete-decriminalization-of-abortion/

04.09.2025

Interviews/Podcasts

decriminalization of abortion

Henry Morgentaler

Lawless: Abortion Under Complete Decriminalization

Abortion for Life: Decriminalize, Destigmatize, Demystify

By Stabroek News
July 14, 2025

By Fred Nunes

On June 14, 1995, President Dr. Cheddi Jagan quietly signed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill into law. That was just five weeks after Hon. Gail Teixeira, Minister of Health, had guided it through the National Assembly. I recall no headlines or fanfare. It simply appeared in the Gazette.

That was a bold step. He replaced the criminal law with legal access to abortion. This took real courage, since he knew he was up against the wrath of almost all religious bodies.

Continued: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2025/07/14/features/in-the-diaspora/abortion-for-life-decriminalize-destigmatize-demystify/

14.07.2025

Commentary

decriminalization of abortion

Dr. Cheddi Jagan

Fred Nunes

Gail Teixeira

Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill

MPs set to vote on decriminalizing abortion in England

Two U.K. Labour MPs are drawing up amendments on the issue that will likely be considered by the House of Commons this summer.

May 1, 2025
By Dan Bloom

LONDON — The U.K. parliament is set to consider decriminalizing abortion in England and Wales this summer, two people with knowledge of the plans have told POLITICO.

Two backbench Labour MPs are drawing up separate proposals to change the law which would be brought before MPs in the coming months, after previous plans ran out of time before the 2024 general election.

Continued: https://www.politico.eu/article/mp-vote-decriminalize-abortion-england/

Abortion in Germany: Preelection push for liberalization

A left-wing cross-party initiative in Germany has been launched to decriminalize abortion in the early stages of pregnancy. Polls show public support, but conservative lawmakers are opposed.

Julie Gregson
Dec 2, 2024

Lawmakers from Germany's center-left parties want to make abortion legal in Germany — in the first three months of pregnancy.

Germany's paragraph 218 outlawing abortions first entered the statute books in 1871 and has long been controversial. While abortion remains illegal, women since the 1990s have been permitted to have them within the first three months of pregnancy without risk of prosecution if they undergo counseling at least three days before the procedure. Terminations in the case of rape or when the woman's mental or physical health is at risk are also exempt from punishment.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/abortion-in-germany-preelection-push-for-liberalization/a-70922840

Decriminalization of abortion in Mexico spurs international calls for stronger reforms

Daniela Pulido | Facultad de Derecho PUCP, PE
November 30, 2024

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday called on Mexican authorities to strengthen abortion access and eliminate remaining criminal code barriers after the Congress of the State of Mexico voted to decriminalize abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

HRW emphasized that while the State of Mexico’s reform marks substantial progress, implementation remains crucial. The organization advocated for comprehensive service delivery and the complete removal of remaining legal barriers that might discourage healthcare providers or patients.

Continued: https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/11/decriminalization-of-abortion-in-mexico-spurs-international-calls-for-stronger-reforms/

30.11.2024

News

abortion law reform

Congress of the State of Mexico

decriminalization of abortion

State of Mexico Congress Votes to Decriminalize Abortion

Authorities Should Ensure Access to Care, Wide Dissemination of Legal Protections

Nov 28, 2024
Human Rights Watch

(Toluca) – The vote by the Congress of the State of Mexico on November 25, 2024, to decriminalize abortion in all cases during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is a significant step forward for reproductive rights in the country’s most populous state, Human Rights Watch said today.

Once enacted, the reform will remove all criminal penalties for abortion within the first trimester. It will align the State of Mexico with 18 other states in the country that have already decriminalized abortion following the landmark 2021 ruling by Mexico’s Supreme Court, which found the absolute criminalization of abortion unconstitutional.

Continued: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/11/28/state-mexico-congress-votes-decriminalize-abortion

28.11.2024

News

Congress of the State of Mexico

Cristina Quijano Carrasco

decriminalization of abortion

Germany Faces Growing Pressure to Reform its Outdated Abortion Law

New law proposed by German organizations and experts builds on recommendations from a government-appointed expert commission

Oct 24, 2024
Center for Reproductive Rights

On 17 October, German civil society organisations and legal experts unveiled a new model law that showcases how vital legal reform on abortion can be achieved. The proposal builds on recommendations from a government-appointed expert commission, released earlier this year, which highlighted how Germany’s current abortion law falls short of international human rights and public health standards.

The group is urging German lawmakers to use the model law as a framework for long-overdue reform, calling for urgent action to expedite the adoption of changes needed to modernise the country’s legislation. They also presented a petition calling on German lawmakers to align with the broader European trend of removing harmful barriers to abortion access and expanding reproductive healthcare rights.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/germany-proposal-reform-abortion-law/

Philippines – Gabriela party-list nominee wants to decriminalize abortion in PH

By: John Eric Mendoza - Reporter
October 04, 2024

MANILA, Philippines — A nominee of Gabriela said the party-list group is in favor of decriminalizing abortion in the Philippines.

Gabriela’s first nominee former Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago filed the feminist party’s certification of nomination and acceptance (Cona) at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Friday.

Continued: https://www.inquirer.net/415516/gabriela-party-list-nominee-wants-to-decriminalize-abortion/

04.10.2024

News

Cathy Estavillo

decriminalization of abortion

5 reasons why abortion is health care

Access to safe abortion care has a real impact on people’s lives and health, from preventing unsafe abortions and complications to upholding bodily autonomy.

September 26, 2024

At Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), we consider safe abortion care a critical part of our sexual and reproductive health care services—one that can save lives and support the well-being of our patients.

Our teams around the world work in countries with varying laws and cultural views on abortion. Every day, MSF staff see firsthand how access to safe abortion care has a real impact on people’s lives and health. Anyone who seeks an abortion—no matter their reason—is deserving of high-quality and dignified care. When patients can access safe abortion care in their communities, the risk of complications related to unsafely induced abortion significantly decreases. There are instances in which safe abortion care is medically necessary to preserve an individual’s health and well-being, or even save their life. As health providers, MSF is committed to upholding medical ethics and person-centered care, which includes access to safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/5-reasons-why-abortion-health-care

26.09.2024

Commentary

bodily autonomy

complications of unsafe abortion

decriminalization of abortion

Doctors Without Borders

Dr. Rasha Khoury

Médecins Sans Frontières

safe abortion

self-managed abortion

World Health Organization

Puebla becomes the 14th Mexican state to decriminalize abortion

MND Staff
July 16, 2024

Puebla has become the 14th state in Mexico to decriminalize abortion.

Despite the efforts of far-right groups to disrupt Monday’s session of the Puebla state Congress, the legislative body voted 29-7, with four abstentions, to allow abortions within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Abortion hasn’t been a federal crime in Mexico since a 2021 ruling by the Supreme Court struck down a law criminalizing abortion in the northern state of Coahuila.

Continued: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/politics/puebla-decriminalize-abortion/

17.07.2024