TAG: abortion laws

Constitutional developments in Latin American abortion law

This article offers an overview of the turn toward more liberal rules and the resolution of abortion disputes by reference to national constitutions. First, the main legal changes of abortion laws in the last decade are surveyed. Landmark decisions of the high courts of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico are then analyzed. We show that courts have accepted the need to balance interests and competing rights to ground less restrictive laws. In doing so, they have articulated limits to protection of fetal interests, and basic ideas of women’s dignity, autonomy, and equality.

Partner for Law in Development’s newsletter

Here is the latest edition (Vol. 9 (IV) July- August 2016) of our bi-monthly newsletter – covering significant UN updates, international events, national judgments and policy related developments relating to gender, sexuality and culture that took place in the months of July and August.

Repeal the Eighth: putting intersectionality into practice

A long-established conservative media frames the terms of abortion politics in Ireland. The pro-choice activism challenges dominant discourses with the inclusivity and diversity of the movement exemplifying how to put intersectionality into practice.

The Sexual Politics in September and early October 2016

Last month a large number of events took place across the globe to mark September 28th as the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal abortion. Of particular relevance was the massive women’s strike in Poland to protest against a new bill aimed at completely banning abortion. Its immediate effect was the […]

September in Brazil: retreats and resistance

September 2016 began under the government of Michel Temer, whose intermediary presidency governed Brazil from May to August while awaiting the results of the impeachment process of President Dilma Rousseff. Temer’s initiation as the reigning president of Brazil gives little hope for positive developments in the fields of sexual and reproductive rights, given the […]

SRI statement on the HRC’s maternal mortality resolution

Human Rights Council adopts resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights in the face of attacks on women’s sexual and reproductive rights Today, the Council adopted by consensus its biannual resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity. The resolution represents an advancement to women’s human rights on several counts. The resolution: highlights […]

Women’s protest leads Polish Congress to vote down abortion ban

The government said that protests against the bill had given ministers “food for thought”. Poland already has among the tightest abortion laws in Europe, and the proposal sought to ban all abortions unless the mother’s life was at risk. Read more on BBC. Read also more news and analysis on the event in Poland: Polish […]

Safe abortion day (28 september): News, analysis and campaigns

To celebrate the Global Day for Safe and Legal Abortion, SPW has collected news, analysis and actions from around the globe. Reflections from Our Countries Special Edition: State of Abortion in 15 Countries – Resurj Campaign Statement in Celebration of International Safe Abortion Day, 28 September 2016 – International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe […]

The Uruguayan experience on preventing unsafe abortions

The volume 134 (August 2016) of the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics brings the special issue “Reducing Maternal Mortality by Preventing Unsafe Abortion: The Uruguayan Experience”, edited by Anibal Faúndes, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil. Click here to read the articles.

Abortion in Tunisia: a right that is under pressure

Tunisia is the only Arab country to authorize the abortion without conditions up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Even so, obtaining access to abortion services often remains complicated. “A right under pressure”, summarises an article from the Tunisian website Inkyfada. The first law on the subject dates from 1965. It legalised abortion in the first […]

Sexual politics in August 2016

In August, the Rio Olympic Games provided a privileged stage for the critical observing of gender and sexuality performances. Several SPW partners positively and generously responded to our invitation to share their views on this peculiar scene. Fernando Seffner, for example, wrote the article Rio 2016: the “Sexual Games”? that glances over sexuality at large. […]

Zika petition filed to the Brazilian Supreme Court

A judicial constitutional review was filed before the Brazilian Supreme Court on 24 August, to demand the protection of rights violated in the context of the Zika virus epidemic in Brazil. Coordinated by Anis – Institute of Bioethics, and filed by the National Association of Public Defenders (ANADEP), the lawsuit was the result of a […]