Abortion in Gibraltar is allowed up to 12 weeks if the woman's mental or physical health is at risk. Gibraltar also allows abortion later if the woman's life is at risk, to prevent "grave permanent" mental or physical injury, or there is a fatal fetal abnormality.[1][2]
Until 2021, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar had the strictest prohibition on abortion in Europe. Under Section 16 of the 2011 Crime Act, it stated that abortion in Gibraltar was punishable by life imprisonment including anyone assisting in the abortion.[3][4][5] However, nobody was convicted of this crime in modern times.[6]
In 2021, the 2021 Gibraltar abortion referendum was held, asking the populace whether to legalize abortion via ratification of the Crimes (Amendment) Act 2019. It won the approval of 63% of voters.[6][7] Under the new law, there are four conditions under which abortions are legalised:[2]
(a) that the pregnancy has not exceeded its twelfth week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman; or
(b) that the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman; or
(c) that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated; or
(d) that there is a substantial risk that the foetus is suffering from a fatal foetal abnormality.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Gibraltar votes to ease tough abortion laws". 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ a b "Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2019" (PDF). Gibraltar Parliament. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "International Women's Day 2018: In UK-territory Gibraltar, women face the strictest anti-abortion laws in Europe". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "ERG considers legal challenge on abortion issue". Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Gibraltar government refuses to change 'draconian' abortion ban which forces women to terminate in Spain or 'do it themselves'". Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Gibraltar votes to ease tough abortion laws". BBC News. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
- ^ Minder, Raphael (2021-06-25). "Gibraltar Votes to Ease Abortion Restrictions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-04.