South Korea: Appeal decision for abortion case exposes legal vacuum

23 July 2026
Amnesty International

Responding to today’s appeal decision overturning the murder conviction of a woman who had a later abortion while reducing the sentences of medical staff, Amnesty International Korea’s Executive Director HeeKyoung Cho said:

“While we welcome the court’s decision to acquit the woman who sought abortion, the court’s decision to uphold the convictions of medical staff exposes structural loopholes in access to essential healthcare in South Korea.

“The National Assembly’s failure to amend the abortion law has left pregnant people without clear legal protections and access to essential reproductive healthcare. People’s ability to exercise their reproductive autonomy, control their reproductive lives and decide if, when and how to have children is essential to the full realization of human rights, dignity, and bodily integrity. Moreover, the ability to make decisions about one’s body, sexuality and reproduction is at the core of gender, economic and social justice.

Continued: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/07/south-korea-appeal-decision-for-abortion-case-exposes-legal-vacuum/

23.07.2026

Commentary

Amnesty International

Amnesty International Korea

HeeKyoung Cho

Mother and Child Health Act

prosecuting women for abortion

Malta – Appeals Court annuls conviction in self-induced abortion case, orders fresh hearing

In landmark ruling, court cautions legal interpretations could create a ‘real risk’ individuals in medical emergencies might abstain from seeking life-saving assistance out of fear that their doctors could effectively become legal investigators

22 July 2026
by Jaelle Borg

The Criminal Court of Appeal has annulled the conviction of a woman found guilty of procuring her own abortion, ruling the original judgment was legally defective and ordering the case to be heard again by the Court of Magistrates.

The court found the original judgment failed to specify the exact provision of law under which the woman had been convicted, rendering the decision null.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/143366/appeal_court_annuls_conviction_in_selfinduced_abortion_case_orders_fresh_hearing

22.07.2026

News

anti-choice misogyny

Emma Portelli Bonnici

Martina Caruana

prosecuting women for abortion

Indonesian woman sentenced to five years for unlawful abortion in Sarawak

Friday, 17 Jul 2026

KUCHING — The Sessions Court here has sentenced an Indonesian woman to five years’ imprisonment for intentionally taking misoprostol to medically abort her unborn son.

Judge Musli Ab Hamid convicted Nopika, 21, on her guilty plea under Section 315 of the Penal Code for an act done with intent to prevent a child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth.

The Section provides for a jail term of up to 10 years, or a fine, or both upon conviction.

Continued: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/17/indonesian-woman-sentenced-to-five-years-for-unlawful-abortion-in-sarawak/227960

17.07.2026

News

jailing women for abortion

misoprostol

Mursyida Abdul Halim

Musli Ab Hamid

prosecuting women for abortion

Malta – ‘Scapegoated’ doctors demand clarity on whether to report abortions

A police report made by the consultant led to a woman being charged, convicted and given an 18-month jail term suspended for three years

15 March 2026
Claudia Calleja

Doctors are calling for clear, written guidance on their legal obligations when a woman is admitted to hospital with a suspected abortion.

The demand comes after a consultant was reportedly “scapegoated” for acting on what appears to have been incorrect legal advice that he was required to report the patient to the police.

The police report made by the consultant, who has since been named as obstetrician and gynaecologist Max Dingli, led to the woman being charged, convicted and given an 18-month jail term suspended for three years.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/article/scapegoated-doctors-demand-clarity-report-abortions.1125494

Americans Oppose Criminalizing Abortion. Too Many Policymakers Aren’t Listening.

Most Americans reject using the criminal justice system to police abortion care.

Oct 3, 2025
by Lucrecia Mena-Meléndez and Kristen N. Jozkowski

Since the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson and overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, more than half of U.S. states have passed laws that dramatically restrict and criminalize abortion. These laws assign criminal penalties—including fines and prison time—not only to healthcare providers who provide abortions or write prescriptions for abortion pills, but in some cases, also to people who assist abortion seekers. Yet, a growing body of research suggests these punitive measures do not reflect the views of most Americans.

Our team on the Abortion Attitudes Project has been studying public opinion about abortion for approximately eight years, including whether people believe those involved in abortions—pregnant people, healthcare providers and people helping abortion seekers—should be punished if abortion is made illegal. Across various national surveys we conducted before and after Dobbs, we have consistently found that most people do not endorse harsh penalties for pregnant people or healthcare providers.

Continued: https://msmagazine.com/2025/10/03/abortion-law-ban-police-criminal-jail-arrest/

03.10.2025

Research

Abortion Attitudes Project

anti-choice misogyny

Kristen N. Jozkowski

Lucrecia Mena-Meléndez

prosecuting providers for abortion

prosecuting women for abortion

punishing women for abortion

Hundreds of US women charged with pregnancy-related crimes since fall of Roe

Study finds prosecutors targeting low-income women mainly in US south – and figure likely to be an undercount

Carter Sherman
Tue 30 Sep 2025

In the first two years after the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, prosecutors in 16 states charged more than 400 people with pregnancy-related crimes, new research released on Tuesday found.

Of the 412 cases tracked by Pregnancy Justice, the vast majority took place in the US south, targeted low-income women and involved allegations that women broke laws against child abuse, endangerment or neglect, according to the research, which was compiled by the reproductive justice group. About 300 prosecutions took place in Alabama and Oklahoma. In 16 cases, law enforcement charged women with homicide.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/30/pregnancy-us-women-crimes-study

30.09.2025

prosecuting women for abortion

prosecuting women for miscarriage

prosecuting women for pregnancy

El Salvador – From Pregnancy to Murder Charge: Living Under a Total Abortion Ban

By Monica Morales-Garcia and Maria Hinojosa
Sep 26, 2025

On a hot San Salvador day, Teodora Vázquez called 911 for an ambulance. She was nine months pregnant, alone at work, and in labor. After multiple phone calls for help, no one arrived. With no medical care, she gave birth, fell unconscious, and began hemorrhaging in a bathroom stall. Shortly after, the police came. To her surprise, they weren’t there to help her, but placed her under arrest for what they decided was the abortion and murder of her newborn. Teodora would then be convicted of homicide and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Since 1997, El Salvador has had a no-exceptions ban on abortion. This means that there are no exceptions for women seeking an abortion after rape, incest, or when their life is in danger. Termination of pregnancy is never allowed; instead, it’s criminalized. Medical professionals can be incarcerated for up to 12 years for assisting or performing an abortion, and pregnant women have been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for what the government has defined as an abortion and homicide.

Continued: https://www.latinousa.org/2025/09/26/pregnancymurdercharge/

26.09.2025

Interviews/Podcasts

30-year jail sentence for stillbirth

jailing women for abortion

Maria Hinojosa

Monica Morales-Garcia

prosecuting women for abortion

Activists call for abortion law reform ahead of Valletta rally

Activists gathered outside Mater Dei with a banner which read 'I came for care and ended up in court'

September 20, 2025
Times of Malta

A group of activists gathered outside Mater Dei Hospital on Saturday morning to highlight the injustice of the health and legal system after a woman who reported stomach cramps to health authorities was later charged in court for carrying out an abortion.

Holding a banner reading 'Ġejt għall-għajnuna u spiċċajt il-Qorti' (I came for care and ended up in court), the demonstration was organised by the Voice For Choice coalition ahead of the Abortion Rights March Rally, taking place on September 27 in Valletta.

Continued: https://timesofmalta.com/article/activists-call-abortion-law-reform-ahead-valletta-rally.1116528

20.09.2025

News

Abortion Rights March Rally

Mater Dei hospital

pro-choice rally

prosecuting women for abortion

Eleven domestic workers arrested over illegal abortions in Hong Kong

Aug 8, 2025
Martin Yip and Flora Drury, BBC News, Hong Kong and London

Eleven domestic workers have been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of "child destruction" and illegal abortions, police have said.

The women, in their 30s and 40s, were rounded up after one was found at her employer's home with a dead foetus, later confirmed to be at least 28 weeks old.

Police also found drugs they suspected were abortion pills - which eventually led them to the 10 other women.

Continued: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9w3k4ymego

08.08.2025

News

Lam Ho-yin

prosecuting women for abortion

Asia

Hong Kong

Law

Malta – A doctor’s shocking necessity to ask patients to lie about their abortion

Pro-choice doctors urge women to lie after an abortion to avoid legal complications given that abortion is illegal and punishable by a prison sentence
3 August 2025
by Kurt Sansone

It is shocking when a doctor asks patients to lie but that is what pro-choice doctors are urging women to do when seeking medical assistance after an abortion.

The reason for such advice is for women to avoid legal complications given that abortion is illegal and punishable by a prison sentence.

Continued: https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/136311/a_doctors_shocking_necessity_to_ask_patients_to_lie_about_their_abortion_