Abortion law is legislation and common law which pertains to the provision of abortion. Abortion has been a controversial subject in many societies through history because of the moral, ethical, practical, and political power issues that surround it. It has been banned frequently and otherwise limited by law. However, abortions continue to be common in many areas where they are illegal; abortion rates are similar in countries where the procedure is legal and in countries where it is not according to the World Health Organization (WHO), due to unavailability of modern contraceptives in areas where abortion is illegal. The number of abortions worldwide is declining due to increased access to contraception according to WHO. Almost 2/3 of the world's women currently reside in countries where abortion may be obtained on request for a broad range of social, economic or personal reasons. Abortion laws vary widely by country. Seven countries (in Latin America and Europe) ban the procedure entirely.
Poland is one of the few countries in the world to outlaw abortion (in the 1990s) after decades of complete legalization (during the Communist rule).
Read more about Abortion Law: History, International Law, National Laws, Case Law
Famous quotes containing the words abortion and/or law:
“If the vice president thinks it’s disgraceful for an unmarried woman to bear a child, and if he believes that a woman cannot adequately raise a child without a father, then he’d better make sure that abortion remains safe and legal.”
—Diane British (b. 1948)
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My word was law from Ith to Emain,
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—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)