UN WOMEN

Ethical and Legal Challenges of Abortion

Abortion cases when there is rape, incest or the mother’s life is in risk have complicated ethical, legal, medical and human rights issues. Women and girls that get pregnant as a consequence of rape might face serious physical and mental consequences, while pregnancies that are threatening the lives of the mothers might have a hard time deciding about their own health and survival. Legislation and policies related to abortion vary from one country to another, with some countries permitting abortions in particular conditions and others prohibiting abortion and punishing it. The issue causes controversies regarding the access to healthcare, bodily autonomy, protection of the victims of sexual violence, medical ethics, and the rights of women and the unborn babies. International organizations and states still discuss the way laws could protect vulnerable people taking into consideration cultural, religious and ethical implications of abortion in such cases and the way to create balanced and sustainable approach to guarantee the access to proper healthcare, protection of the victims of sexual violence, maternal life and health, as well as human rights protection.