The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

These are the laws on abortion in the rest of the world: in which countries is it easier and which are more restrictive?

2022-05-06T18:22:35.981Z


The United States is not the only country to have a heated debate about abortion, and laws on the procedure differ in countries around the world.


By Rachel Elbaum and Nigel Chiwaya -

NBC News

Tensions and emotions are running high in the United States after the leak of the draft Supreme Court opinion published by Politico suggested that Roe v.

Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that established abortion rights across the country could be overturned this summer.

However, the United States is not the only country to have a heated debate about abortion, and laws on the procedure differ in countries around the world.

[Some religions support the right to abortion.

Their leaders talk about it]

Regardless of the laws surrounding abortion, rates are similar in countries where abortion is restricted and where the procedure is largely legal, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. 

Here are some key facts about abortion laws in other countries, based on information from the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Guttmacher Institute, the World Health Organization and the Reuters news agency.

Countries and regions with strict limits on abortion

Abortion is totally prohibited in 24 countries.

According to the WHO, when people face obstacles in obtaining safe abortions, they often resort to unsafe procedures.

These are more common in countries with restrictive laws.

The Savior

Abortion is a crime in El Salvador, which has some of the most restrictive laws in the world.

They prohibit abortion even when the pregnancy endangers the life or health of the woman or in cases of rape.

The procedure has been prohibited without exception since 1998. More than 180 women who suffered obstetric emergencies have been prosecuted for abortion or aggravated homicide in the last 20 years.

Women accused of having abortions have been convicted of murder, sometimes with prison sentences of up to 40 years, according to Human Rights Watch.

malt

Maltese women are totally denied access to abortion, even if their lives are in danger.

It is the only member state of the European Union (EU) that prohibits the procedure, and women who abort face sentences of up to three years in prison.

Poland

Poland is a strongly Catholic country and has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe.

The law changed in 2021 to make it illegal to terminate pregnancies with fetal defects, and abortions are now only possible to save a woman's life, to preserve her health, or in cases of rape or incest. 

African countries

In Africa, while unwanted pregnancies have decreased by 15% in the last 30 years, abortions have increased by 13%, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Many African countries have restrictive abortion laws, allowing the procedure only if the mother's life is threatened, as in Nigeria, or in cases of rape, incest or fetal defects, as in Botswana and Zimbabwe.  

Countries that have recently relaxed restrictions on abortion

Colombia

The highest constitutional court of Colombia ruled in February the legalization of the procedure until the 24th week of pregnancy. 

Mexico

The Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico ruled unanimously in September the decriminalization of abortion.

The procedure is allowed until the 12th week of pregnancy.

In Mexico City, abortion was decriminalized in 2007.

Ireland

Ireland voted in 2018 to remove the abortion ban from its constitution.

Abortion is now allowed up to the 12th week of pregnancy, when the mother's health or life is at risk, or when the fetus has a birth defect.

Argentina

Argentine legislators approved a bill at the end of 2020 that legalizes abortion up to the 14th week of gestation and later in certain circumstances.

Countries with fewer restrictions on abortion

In much of Europe, Canada and Australia, abortion laws are somewhat similar to the US in that there are few restrictions other than gestational limits.

France, for example, has a gestational limit of 16 weeks, Spain's is 14 weeks, and Italy's is 90 days.

[Banning Abortion Doesn't Stop It: Why You're Worried the Supreme Court Will Overturn Roe v.

wade]

In South Africa and Mozambique, abortion is permitted but limited to the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. 

If the law in the United States changes with a Supreme Court ruling this summer, it is likely that some states will change their restrictions on abortion.

That means some parts of the United States could end up with more restrictive abortion laws than other developed countries, including neighboring Canada and Mexico.

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2022-05-06

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.