Australia- Katter attempts to force discussion on abortion access in Queensland parliament despite ban on debate

By Sarah Richards and Ned Hammond
June 2, 2026

An attempt by Katter's Australian Party (KAP) to dodge a debate ban and revive abortion access discussion has been shot down in state parliament.

The subject became an issue ahead of the last Queensland election in October 2024, when KAP pledged to introduce legislation to repeal abortion laws after the poll.

After winning government, Premier David Crisafulli banned MPs from amending the Termination of Pregnancy Act or debating any motion that allowed the parliament to express a view on the law over the LNP's first term.

Continued; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-02/katters-australian-party-abortion-drug-debate-crisafulli/106750096

02.06.2026

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Justice for Women and Girls: Five Global Wins to Celebrate this International Women’s Day

To mark International Women’s Day and the UN’s 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Center is celebrating our biggest wins on securing access to justice for women and girls.

March 6, 2026
Center for Reproductive Rights

Ensuring women’s access to justice is key to the Center’s mission of protecting reproductive rights around the world. It is also a central pillar of International Women’s Day (IWD) and the theme of this year’s session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), taking place March 9-19 at the United Nations.

CSW is an annual opportunity for the global community to take stock of progress on gender equality, to identify challenges and roadblocks, and to set goals for the future. This year Center leaders and partners will join human rights experts on panels across the session, as well as hosting two public side events that examine the intersection of women’s access to justice and their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/news/international-womens-day-five-wins/

06.03.2026

Commentary

A.R. v. Poland

Center for Reproductive Rights

European Court of Human Rights

International Women's Day

Termination of Pregnancy Act

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Zimbabwe – Dilemma reignites debate on rape, abortion and women rights

February 7, 2026
Muchaneta Chimuka, Features Writer

MULTI-AWARD-WINNING filmmaker, Joe Njagu’s Dilemma, explores how a couple’s dream of having a baby turns nasty after Chloe Thandeka “Busi” Ncube is gang-raped by armed robbers at their matrimonial home and impregnated, leaving her traumatised.

Cultural and religious beliefs within her family become a stumbling block for Busi to access safe abortion services at the local clinic and for her to get justice. This creates a big wound in the heart of the vulnerable woman.

Continued: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/dilemma-reignites-debate-on-rape-abortion-and-women-rights/

07.02.2026

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Court Overturns Conviction, Affirms Reproductive Justice and Access to Abortion in Zambia

Center for Reproductive Rights
January 16, 2026

Today, the High Court of Zambia overturned the conviction of Violet Zulu and set her free from a 7-year prison sentence. Violet, a young single mother of two, was sentenced to seven years in prison for procuring her own abortion. This landmark decision corrects a grave miscarriage of justice and marks a significant step forward in the fight for women’s and girls’ rights to access reproductive health services in Zambia.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, together with Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) Zambia, and the law firm of Musa Dudhia and Company Advocates (ALN Zambia), remained relentless in fighting for Violet’s release. In its judgment, the Court found that the decision of the lower court was unlawful and unjust, and that Violet’s rights were violated. The Court accordingly ordered her immediate release.

Continued: https://reproductiverights.org/news/court-overturns-conviction-affirms-reproductive-justice-access-abortion-zambia/

16.01.2026

News

Center for Reproductive Rights

High Court of Zambia

Rosemary Kirui

Sharon Williams

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Violet in Zambia

Women and Law in Southern Africa

Justice Denied: How Poverty Led Zambian Mother to Jail for Procuring an Abortion

December 11, 2025
Center for Reproductive Rights

LUSAKA — Justice is often described as blind, but for Violet Zulu, a 24-year-old domestic worker from Lusaka, it was also prohibitively expensive.

In January 2024, Violet was sentenced to seven years in prison. Her crime? Terminating a pregnancy she could not afford to carry, in a health care system she could not afford to access. Now, human rights organizations led by the Center for Reproductive Rights and WLSA Zambia are challenging that conviction in the High Court of Zambia.

Continued; https://reproductiverights.org/news/justice-denied-poverty-zambian-mother-jail-abortion/

11.12.2025

Commentary

Center for Reproductive Rights

jailing women for abortion

muleza

Termination of Pregnancy Act

ZIMBABWE – Uptake of post-abortion care still low despite Government efforts

November 28, 2025
Tendai Gukutikwa

GOVERNMENT has been applauded for making progress in ensuring that post-abortion care is available at designated health facilities.

However, uptake remains worryingly low, with experts warning that thousands of women continue to suffer complications in silence due to stigma, fear, misinformation and cultural barriers that push them away from lifesaving treatment.

In an interview on the sidelines of a media training, Women’s Action Group programme officer, Ms Vimbai Nyika said the availability of care is an important step in safeguarding women’s health, but misconceptions around abortion and community attitudes are still discouraging women from seeking help.

Continued: https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/uptake-of-post-abortion-care-still-low-despite-government-efforts/

28.11.2025

News

post-abortion care

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Abortion in Queensland in the 21st century

3 February 2025
Caroline de Costa

It is hoped that the incoming Queensland Government keep Queensland on the path to safe and fully accessible reproductive health care for all women and pregnant people within the public sector.

Throughout the 20th century, abortion remained in the criminal legislation of all Australian states and territories, despite efforts to decriminalise laws and provide safe abortion care that began in the 1960s. Only in the 21st century has Australia seen real change in abortion law: from 2000 to 2024, all jurisdictions have decriminalised abortion. Although much remains to be done, there has been improved provision of safe accessible abortion care, including early medical abortion in many parts of the country, lessening of the stigma long associated with abortion, teaching of medical students and doctors about abortion, and promotion and publication of research around the topic.

Continued: https://insightplus.mja.com.au/2025/4/abortion-in-queensland-in-the-21st-century/

Women Advocate Group Applauds Landmark Ruling on Safe Abortions

December 18, 2024

HARARE – The Women and Law in Southern Africa (WILSA) has raised alarm over Zimbabwe’s high maternal mortality rates and complications from unsafe abortions, particularly among adolescents. The organisation has hailed a recent High Court ruling that effectively outlaws the prohibition of safe abortions, calling it a step forward in addressing these pressing issues.

Speaking at a media briefing in Harare on Tuesday, WILSA National Director Isheanesu Chirisa highlighted staggering statistics on unsafe abortions in the country. She revealed that studies from 2019 show that 219 abortions occur daily in Zimbabwe, with 80,000 abortions recorded that year.

Continued: https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/health/woemn-advocate-group-applauds-landmark-ruling-on-safe-abortions/

Zimbabwe court rules against law that denies abortion to marital rape victims and girls below 18

Farai Mutsaka, The Associated Press
Dec. 3, 2024

HARARE, Zimbabwe - A law prohibiting abortion services for women raped by their husbands and girls under the age of 18 is unconstitutional, Zimbabwe’s High Court has ruled.

In his ruling handed down on Nov. 22 and made public this week, Judge Maxwell Takuva said since Zimbabwe’s laws already criminalize marital rape and sex with a minor, victims should be allowed to abort if they become pregnant.

The ruling is significant, given Zimbabwe’s restrictive abortion laws that often lead women and girls into illegal and unsafe backstreet abortions that in many cases turn fatal.

Continued: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/zimbabwe-court-rules-against-law-that-denies-abortion-to-marital-rape-victims-and-girls-below-18-1.7131471

03.12.2024

News

rape and abortion

teenage pregnancies

Termination of Pregnancy Act

Zimbabwe -Youths collaborate towards accessible reproductive healthcare

Health By Richard Farekaye
Sep 21, 2024

YOUTH-LED organisation My Age Zimbabwe on Wednesday hosted an Open House ahead of the International Safe Abortion Day commemorations, an event which brought together parliamentarians, stakeholders, young women, and girls, creating a platform for critical discussions on the milestones achieved and ongoing challenges regarding access to safe abortion services in Zimbabwe.

The International Safe abortion Day is an annual day of action commemorated annually on September 28 in support of the right to safe abortion.

Continued: https://www.newsday.co.zw/theindependent/amp/health/article/200032590/youths-collaborate-towards-accessible-reproductive-healthcare

21.09.2024