Countries around the world have different takes on abortion laws. Some countries like Italy, Russia, etc allow legal abortion, and some countries like the Philippines, Egypt, Iraq, etc have a complete abortion ban.
Highlights
- Abortion Law varies among countries
- Abortion laws have certain exceptions like rape, incest, or life risk for pregnant women.
- Every country has its restrictions and exceptions
- Countries like Egypt, the Philippines, Andorra, and others completely prohibited abortions
Abortion laws vary among countries and territories. Abortion law has come a long way in many countries. Some countries that used to ban abortions are allowing it either under certain circumstances or fully legalize abortion.
Countries that have legalized abortion have gestational limits for the procedure. The procedure depends on various reasons with the majority being up to 12 weeks for abortion on request, 24 weeks for rape, incest, or socioeconomic reasons, and risk to women’s health or life and fetal impairment.
Abortion has been a controversial topic in many countries and societies for many decades. The controversy varies on the societies’ religion, moral, ethical, practical, or political grounds.
Many studies have been done by WHO and Guttmacher Institute on the abortion rates in countries, they find that there is almost no difference between the rate of abortion among the countries where abortion is legal and where it is prohibited.
Countries and their law regarding abortions
Most countries allow abortions under certain circumstances like the risk of a life of the woman, rape, incest, or socioeconomic reasons. But many countries fully restrict abortion and don’t have exceptions for abortion.
In past decades many countries have been allowing freedom to women over abortions. But there are still many countries that do not allow abortion.
These countries even take legal action against those women who got abortions in some illegal ways and those who help them.
Most notable countries where abortion is completely illegal are in Africa, where Congo, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, and Senegal are, and also in Europe where countries like Andorra, Malta, and the Vatican State don’t allow abortions under any circumstances.
Abortions are also illegal in countries like Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Suriname, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic as well as the Philippines, Laos, and Palau.
List of countries where abortion is Illegal
| Andorra | Egypt | Jamaica | Nicaragua |
| Aruba | El Salvador | Laos | Palau |
| Congo | Haiti | Madagascar | Philippines |
| Curacao | Honduras | Malta | San Marino |
| Dominican Republic | Iraq | Mauritania | Senegal |
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Africa: – During 2010-2014, Africa has an estimated 8.2 million abortions occurred and this number increased from 4.6 million in 1990-1994. Abortion is a very sensitive process, if done poorly it will cause many issues for the women in future pregnancy or even in some cases death.
WHO-recommend a few abortion methods but it needs to be performed by trained persons. In Africa, many women undergo unsafe abortions as they don’t have the money to get the safer ones.
This has caused many complications for women in Africa as they are under the most unsafe abortion method possible.
To avoid complication like these circumstances’ countries like Egypt and other countries in Africa has completely prohibited abortions with the exception to save the life of pregnant women.
Philippines: – For over a century, abortion has been criminalized in the Philippines. There is no exception in their law like women’s safety or rape or incest. The abortion law was stated in 1870 under Spanish colonial rule, and it has been followed since then.
In 2008, the Abortion ban has resulted in the deaths of at least 1000 women and over 90000 complications for women in the Philippines.
Honduras: – Abortion is completely banned in Honduras and there are no exceptions for it. The abortion ban has been in the country since 1982. Honduras has also prohibited the use of contraception pills in the country.
Andorra: – Andorra and Malta are the only European countries where abortions are completely banned even for maternal life. Even criminal cases will be filed against those who performed or give consent to abortion in Andorra for 2 ½ years.
Final Statement: – Abortion is a risky process whether it is legal or not but the decision should be given to the maternal. The abortion law has put many restrictions and complications on pregnant women’s future as a whole.
Read More: – Abortion laws around the world
