Here you can find information about political. legal and medical develoments on abortion.
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Abortion laws Worldwide
Legal World Map -
RED Abortion illegal in all circumstances or permitted only to save a woman's life. PINK Abortion legally permitted only to save a woman's life or protect her physical health. YELLOW Abortion legally permitted only to protect mental health. BLUE Abortion legally permitted on socioeconomic grounds WHITE Abortion on request
Approximately 25% of the world's population lives in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws - mostly in Latin America, Africa and Asia. In some countries, such as in Chile, women still go to prison for having an illegal abortion, and abortion is not allowed even in cases of rape or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman.
For abortion laws in specific countries click here to see ABORTION LAWS OF THE WORLD from Harvard university
Legalization of abortion can prevent the unnecessary suffering and death of women. Restrictive abortion laws violate women's human rights based on agreements made at the UN International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 1 & 3 &12 &19 & 27.1).
Prior to the beginning of the 19th century, there were no abortion laws in existence. In 1869 Pope Pius IX declared that ensoulement occurs at conception. As a result the laws in the 19th century did not allow any termination of pregnancy. These laws form the basis of the restrictive legislation on abortion that still exist in many developing countries. Between 1950 and 1985 almost all developed countries liberalized their abortion laws for reasons of human rights and safety. Where abortion is still illegal this is often due to old colonial laws and not always an expression of the opinion of the local population.
Colorindex to the map:
RED
Abortion illegal in all circumstances or permitted only to save a woman's life.PINK
Abortion legally permitted only to save a woman's life or protect her physical health.YELLOW
Abortion legally permitted only to protect mental health.BLUE
Abortion legally permitted on socioeconomic groundsWHITE
Abortion on requestRed countries on the map
South America:
Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gustamala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nigaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela,Sub-Saharan Africa:
Angola, Benin, Central African Rep.Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Gabon, Guinea- Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mauretania, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.Middle East and North Africa:
Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Sudan (r), Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.Asia and Pacific:
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka.Europe:
Ireland, Malta.PINK countries on the map
The Americas and the Caribbean:
Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, UruguaySub-Saharan Africa:
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi, Mozambique, ZimbabweMiddle East and North Africa:
Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi ArabiAsia and Pacific:
Pakistan, South Korea, ThailandEurope:
Poland -
Abortion laws Worldwide
Legal World Map -
RED Abortion illegal in all circumstances or permitted only to save a woman's life. PINK Abortion legally permitted only to save a woman's life or protect her physical health. YELLOW Abortion legally permitted only to protect mental health. BLUE Abortion legally permitted on socioeconomic grounds WHITE Abortion on request
Approximately 25% of the world's population lives in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws - mostly in Latin America, Africa and Asia. In some countries, such as in Chile, women still go to prison for having an illegal abortion, and abortion is not allowed even in cases of rape or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman.
For abortion laws in specific countries click here to see ABORTION LAWS OF THE WORLD from Harvard university
Legalization of abortion can prevent the unnecessary suffering and death of women. Restrictive abortion laws violate women's human rights based on agreements made at the UN International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 1 & 3 &12 &19 & 27.1).
Prior to the beginning of the 19th century, there were no abortion laws in existence. In 1869 Pope Pius IX declared that ensoulement occurs at conception. As a result the laws in the 19th century did not allow any termination of pregnancy. These laws form the basis of the restrictive legislation on abortion that still exist in many developing countries. Between 1950 and 1985 almost all developed countries liberalized their abortion laws for reasons of human rights and safety. Where abortion is still illegal this is often due to old colonial laws and not always an expression of the opinion of the local population.
Colorindex to the map:
RED
Abortion illegal in all circumstances or permitted only to save a woman's life.PINK
Abortion legally permitted only to save a woman's life or protect her physical health.YELLOW
Abortion legally permitted only to protect mental health.BLUE
Abortion legally permitted on socioeconomic groundsWHITE
Abortion on requestRed countries on the map
South America:
Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Gustamala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nigaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Venezuela,Sub-Saharan Africa:
Angola, Benin, Central African Rep.Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Gabon, Guinea- Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mauretania, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.Middle East and North Africa:
Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Sudan (r), Syria, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.Asia and Pacific:
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka.Europe:
Ireland, Malta.PINK countries on the map
The Americas and the Caribbean:
Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, UruguaySub-Saharan Africa:
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi, Mozambique, ZimbabweMiddle East and North Africa:
Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi ArabiAsia and Pacific:
Pakistan, South Korea, ThailandEurope:
Poland How can I do an abortion with pills?
The best and safest way a woman can do an abortion herself until the 9th week of pregnancy is with the use of two medicines called Mifepristone (also known as the abortion pill, RU 486, Mifegyn, Mifeprex), and Misoprostol (also known as Cytotec, Arthrotec, Oxaprost, Cyprostol, Mibetec, Prostokos or Misotrol).
If you live in a country where there is no access to safe abortion services and you would like to obtain a medical abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol, please go to Women on Web.
A woman can also do an abortion herself until the 9th week of pregnancy with only the use of Misoprostol.
Diesel for Women
Women on Waves designed a hoax campaign "Diesel for Women" to expose the violations of women’s rights that take place in the garment industry. The hoax is a parody on the PR campaigns and the reluctance to address human rights by the fashion industry in general and Diesel in particular. It intends to show that violations of human rights never happen in isolation and that the right to a safe abortion is connected with the broader framework of social rights, workers rights and the right to autonomy.
Facebook apologized after censoring abortion rights information.
Facebook removed the profile picture form Dr. R. Gomperts, director of Women on Waves. The profile picture contains information about how women can do abortions themselves safely with Misoprostol.
By removing the profile picture, Facebook has severely violated Article 19 of the Universal declaration of Human rights, the right to freedom of information as well as Article 10 of the European convention of human rights, the freedom of expression. Facebook has a social responsibility to guarantee and protect human rights.
Dr. Gomperts reposted the screenshot of the facebook censorship message with the picture and called upon other facebook users to repost the image, which was done by hundreds of facebook users. However this picture was removed again and Gomperts was blocked from using her facebook account for 2 days. After receiving inquiries by journalist, facebook send an email to apologize and acknowledged that the picture did not violate any facebook users regulations.Launch safe abortion hotline Indonesia
More than 130 people participate in flashmob in Jogjakarta to launch safe abortion hotline.
The hotline can be reached at:
*Safe Abortion Hotline*
(+62) 081 9889 240
(+62) 0878 3955 5100
Monday to Friday
09.00-16.00 WIB
Email : samsara.konseling@gmail.comFor more press information: (+62)0819889240
Safe abortion hotlines
Women with unwanted pregnancies who need help can get information about the best use of misoprostol for a safe abortion through safe abortion hotlines. At this moment there are safe abortion hotlines in:
Pakistan:
0307 - 494 07 07 - (Urdu, Punjabi)
0315 - 917 04 08 - (Urdu, Pastho)
0315 - 947 33 99 - (Urdu, Sindhi)Indonesia:
*Safe Abortion Hotline*
(+62) 081 9889 240
(+62) 0878 3955 5100
Monday to Friday
09.00-16.00 WIB
Email : samsara.konseling@gmail.comVenezuela:
0426 1169496Argentina:
(011) 156 664 7070Chile:
88918590Ecuador:
593098301317Peru:
01945411951Sexual Health Services and abortion clinics Worldwide
For almost every country we have listed some family planning, women's health, and abortion rights organisations.
Venezuela Safe Abortion Hotline Launched, May 2011
On May 18th, a safe abortion hotline was launched by feminist activists in Venezuela. The hotline offers scientific and reliable information about how women can safely use misoprostol to have an abortion in their own home, in order to prevent the harm and deaths that are caused by unsafe abortion. Within one hour of launching, the hotline had already received its first call. In Venezuela abortion is illegal except when the woman's life is in danger.
Misoprostol hotline Pakistan, June 2010
A new hotline has been launched in Pakistan that gives information about how women can use the medication misoprostol to have a safe abortion, or to prevent dangerous hemorrhaging after giving birth. Every year 30.000 women die from pregnancy related causes in Pakistan. The use of misoprostol by women themselves after giving birth or for induction of safe abortion can save the lives of 10.000 women in Pakistan every year. Misoprostol is available in Pakistan under the brand names Arthrotec, Cytotec, Cytopan, and ST Mom®.
Women needing information in Pakistan/ hotline numbers:
0307 - 494 07 07 - (Urdu, Punjabi)
0315 - 917 04 08 - (Urdu, Pastho)
0315 - 947 33 99 - (Urdu, Sindhi)New: resources
Safe abortion hotline Peru, May 2010
People needed
We are looking for people that would like to join the email helpdesk to help women with unwanted pregnancies from all over the world in the following languages:
Arabic
Tagalog
Thai
You should be based in the Netherlands so that you can be trained. Are you a native speaker and would you be willing to work on the helpdesk, write an email to info@womenonwaves.org.
Break the silence
You can help support abortion rights and help break the taboo around abortion. Please go to Women on Web to show your face and share your story. Or donate money to help other women around the world to get safe abortion.
If you live in a country where there is no access to safe abortion services and you would like to obtain a medical abortion with Mifepristone and Misoprostol, please go to Women on Web. This is a online medical abortion help service that refers to a doctor who can provide you with a medical abortion.
Safe birth with Misoprostol
Heavy bleeding after giving birth (Postpartum hemorrhage, PPH) is one of the main causes of women’s death after giving birth (25%). 14 million women experience bleeding after birth annually. In other words: 1 in 10 women will have PPH after giving birth and of 1 of each 100 women who have PPH will die as a result. Using Misoprostol immediately after giving birth reduces the risk of heavy bleeding by 60%. Here you can read how to prevent heavy bleeding when you give birth at home.