Abortion after 24 weeks

Key messages:

• Under the current law, abortions after 24 weeks require the agreement of two doctors, taking into account the woman’s medical, physical, psychological and social circumstances.
• Abortions at this stage of pregnancy are very rare, but there will always be a small but very real need for these services, and the current law acknowledges this.
• The circumstances surrounding abortion after 24 weeks are very complex and it is difficult to speculate on each woman’s individual circumstances.
• Reasons for seeking abortions at this stage often involve factors like intimate partner violence, failure to recognise a pregnancy, and congenital abnormality.
• It is important that women in these situations are able to access the health care and support they need.
• Instead of reducing access to abortion, we should be increasing access to sex education and contraception.