The New Zealand government released long-awaited plans Monday to overhaul its abortion laws, so that termination is treated as a health issue and a woman’s choice rather than a crime.
Under the proposed law, a woman will have access to an abortion until 20 weeks’ pregnancy and would only require a medical examination after that.
The bill, to be introduced to parliament on Thursday, will be a conscience vote rather than along party lines.
New Zealand currently has restrictive laws listing abortion as a crime, but with a loophole that gives a woman access to termination if two doctors agree a pregnancy would put her in physical or mental danger. Read more