Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act

Can India finally ensure stigma-free and safe abortion access?

The Abortion Rights Alliance will advocate for legal and policy reforms that expand access to safe, dignified abortion care without fear or delay

October 10, 2025

The Abortion Rights Alliance for Inclusion, Safety and Empowerment (ARISE), a national alliance of public health professionals, safe abortion providers, legal advocates, feminist and human rights organisations, was launched to demand urgent, coordinated action to ensure universal, stigma-free access to safe abortion services across India.

Despite the 2021 amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, which has expanded conditional access to safe abortion services for a wider category of abortion seekers, access remains deeply uneven. In a landmark judgement in 2022, the Supreme Court affirmed the right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks of gestation, within the context of the amended MTP Act, despite her marital status.

Continued: https://www.healthcareradius.in/awareness-and-promotion/abortion-pregnancy

10.10.2025
Abortion Rights Alliance for Inclusion Safety and Empowerment
abortion stigma
ARISE
Asia Safe Abortion Partnership
Dr Kalpana Apte
Dr Suchitra Dalvie
Family Planning Association of India
IPAS Development Foundation
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act
Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Vinoj Manning

India – Gujarat court allows abortion of 33-week pregnancy in 13-year-old rape victim

The Gujarat High Court has allowed the abortion of a 33-week-old foetus of a 13-year-old rape survivor from Rajkot, citing medical risks and the girl's young age.

Brijesh Doshi
May 13, 2025

The Gujarat High Court on Monday allowed the abortion of a 33-week pregnancy of a 13-year-old rape survivor from Rajkot. The decision came nearly a week after a special POCSO court rejected her plea for the same.

The minor became pregnant after being raped multiple times by her neighbour while her mother and stepfather were away at work. A First Information Report was registered at the Rajkot B-Division Police Station on May 3, 2025, under charges of rape and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Continued: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/gujarat-high-court-allows-abortion-eight-months-pregnancy-teenage-girl-rape-victim-2723845-2025-05-13

13.05.2025
News
Gujarat high court
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act
Nirzar Desai
POCSO ct
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Asia
India
Human Rights
Law

India – Abortion plea by woman held for ‘kidnapping’ 13-yr-old boy: Surat court to hear police’s response today

The teacher was arrested and the boy rescued from Shamlaji, a border area between Gujarat and Rajasthan, on April 29

By: Express News Service
May 12, 2025

The Special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012) court in Surat will on Monday hear the police’s response to the plea filed by a 23-year-woman, who is in jail following her arrest in a kidnapping and POCSO case involving her 13-year-old student, seeking permission to undergo an abortion.

The woman was arrested on April 29 after the boy’s parents filed a kidnapping case against her on April 26.

Continued: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/abortion-plea-by-woman-held-for-kidnapping-13-yr-old-boy-surat-court-to-hear-polices-response-today-9997067/

12.05.2025
News
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act
MTP Act
POCSO Act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Asia
India
Law

Could ASHAs bridge India’s abortion support gap? Chhattisgarh shows how

These frontline health workers, with their close knowledge of the communities they work in, could help ensure safe access to the much-needed procedure.

Menaka Rao, IndiaSpend.com
Feb 22, 2025

As a “Mitanin” in Dhamtari town in Chhattisgarh, Bhavika Dhruv has been working with women facing domestic violence for 12 years. Mitanin, or “friend” in Chhattisgarhi, is the name given to Accredited Social Health Activists or ASHA workers in the state.

One such woman Dhruv worked with was her 30-year-old client, M. At first, M did not open up to her, Dhruv said. When M was pregnant with her second child, about three years ago, Dhruv helped take her to the hospital for check ups and delivery, as Mitanins do. It was during these hospital visits that M started talking to her about her situation at home.

Continued; https://scroll.in/article/1079317/could-ashas-bridge-indias-abortion-support-gap-chhattisgarh-shows-how

22.02.2025
Commentary
Accredited Social Health Activists
Action Research and Training for Health
Anju Gautam
Arun Sahu
ASHAs
Dhanai Nitam
domestic violence
Humar Swasthya Humar Haath
IPAS Development
Jagriti Baretha
Mitanin Programme
Nirmala Sahu
Parivar Seva Sanstha
Parvati Yadav
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Pushpalata Sahu
Raziya Begum
Sharad Iyengar
Tomeshwar Mali
Vikash Keshri
Vinoj Manning
Asia
India
Activism
Health
Human Rights

India – State to form panel to protect minors’ identities in abortion cases: Bombay High Court told

The State Public Health Department also pledged to widely publicize the Supreme Court’s ruling on this subject through the State's website, social media, and workshops for medical practitioners and field officers.

Sahyaja MS
28 Nov 2024

The State of Maharashtra on Thursday assured the Bombay High Court that it will constitute a committee within two weeks to oversee the implementation of a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that allowed the protection of minors' identities in abortion/ medical terminations of pregnancy (MTP) cases.

The Supreme Court's ruling allows registered medical practitioners (RMPs) to withhold the identity of a minor when mandatorily reporting a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), but only if the minor and their guardian specifically request it.

Continued: https://www.barandbench.com/news/state-panel-minors-identities-abortion-cases-bombay-high-court

28.11.2024
News
Bombay High Court
Dr Rajendra Ratilal Chawhan
Milind Mhaiskar
minors and abortion
PK Chavan
POCSO Act
protecting minors' identities
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Revati Mohite Dere
Asia
India
Human Rights
Law

Factsheet Examines the Impact of India’s Laws on Adolescents’ Access to Abortion Care

Law designed to protect minors has created a chilling effect on adolescent access to safe abortion services.

Center for Reproductive Rights
July 25, 2024

Although India’s Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), enacted in 2012, was designed to protect children from sexual offences, the Act has created several barriers that deter adolescents from accessing safe and legal abortion services.

The Center for Reproductive Rights partnered with the Law and Marginalisation Clinic at the Centre for Justice, Law and Society (CJLS) at Jindal Global Law School; CommonHealth; YP Foundation; and Hidden Pockets to develop a factsheet examining the POCSO Act and its impact on adolescents’ access to care.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/india-adolescents-abortion-access-posco-act/

25.07.2024
Commentary
Center for Reproductive Rights
Centre for Justice Law and Society
CommonHealth;
Hidden Pockets
POSCO Act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
sexual assault
YP Foundation
Asia
India
Health
Human Rights
Law

India – ‘Parents should not pressurise girl for abortion’: Gujarat HC allows minor to end pregnancy

The observation was in the context of that the man the girl was in a relationship with which led to the pregnancy, opposed the termination of the pregnancy.

By: Express News Service

Ahmedabad | September 9, 2023

The Gujarat High Court on Friday permitted a 17-year old girl to terminate her 19-week pregnancy even as the court, after perusing investigation records in the case, orally remarked that her parents should not pressure her to go for an abortion.

The court of Justice Samir Dave, in the order, also quoted a verse from ‘Skanda Purana’ to emphasise on the value mothers hold in the society. The verse from Skanda Purana, Chapter 6 103-104 notes that “there is no shade, shelter and protection like that of a mother, no life giver in this world like the mother.”

Continued: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-hc-abortion-minor-pregnancy-8931885/

09.09.2023
News
Bhargav Mehta
Gujarat high court
Justice Samir Dave
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Asia
India
Human Rights
Law

Privacy For Minors Seeking Abortion Post Consensual Sex: Madras HC

In a significant legal announcement, the Madras High Court has ruled that doctors are not obligated to reveal the identity of a minor seeking termination of pregnancy due to consensual sexual activity.

Harnur Watta
Aug 19, 2023

In a significant legal pronouncement, the Madras High Court has ruled that doctors are not obligated to reveal the identity of a minor seeking termination of pregnancy due to consensual sexual activity.

This landmark decision was issued by a Special Bench of Justices N Anand Venkatesh and Sunder Mohan, specially convened to address cases involving the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Continued: https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/privacy-for-minors-seeking-abortion-madras-hc-ruling

20.08.2023
News
Madras High Court
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act
minors and abortion
N Anand Venkatesh
POSCO Act
privacy for minors seeking abortion
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Sunder Mohan
Asia
India
Health
Human Rights
Law

When People Don’t Say ‘Abortion’: How News Media Shapes Public Perception

Representation in the media can make or break the fight for safe abortions. Here’s how to do it right.

ANOUSHKA RAJESH
28 Sep 2022

“Where I am from, people don’t even say the word 'abortion'," says Meenakshi Saxena, who works with the Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India. She goes on to explain how instead they use 'MTP' as a verb.

MTP refers to the celebrated Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, the law that protects abortion rights in India.

Continued: https://www.thequint.com/fit/her-health/international-safe-abortion-day-news-media-public-perception-guidelines

28.09.2022
Featured
Opinion
abortion stigma
Debanjana Choudhuri
Feminism in India
Foundation for Reproductive Health Services India
Japleen Pasricha
maternal mortality
media and abortion
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act
Meenakshi Saxena
MTP Act
Pratigya Campaign
Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
Asia
India
Health
Human Rights

India – Illegal Abortion Case Leads Police to 11 Skulls, 56 Foetal Bones in Hospital Premises

A day ago, a doctor and two nurses were arrested from the family-run Kadam Hospital, in Arvi city of Wardha district in Maharashtra.

The Wire Staff
Jan 15, 2022

New Delhi: Police have found 11 skulls and 56 foetal bones from the premises of a hospital under fire for performing an abortion on a 13-year-old girl.

Indian Express has reported that a day ago, a doctor and two nurses were arrested from the family-run Kadam Hospital, in Arvi city of Wardha district in Maharashtra.

Continued: https://thewire.in/government/illegal-abortion-case-leads-police-to-11-skulls-56-foetal-bones-in-hospital-premises

17.01.2022
Kadam Hospital
POSCO Act
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act
rape and abortion