New Zealand passes law decriminalising abortion

RAEL’S COMMENT:

Great news!

New Zealand’s parliament has passed a bill decriminalising abortion and allowing women to choose a termination up to 20 weeks into a pregnancy.

Voting to remove the procedure from the country’s Crimes Act changes a law that has been in force since 1977.

Previously, two doctors were required to approve an abortion – and this could only happen if there was a “serious danger” to the pregnant woman’s health.

The bill passed on its third reading by 68 votes to 51.

An earlier plan to put the issue to a public referendum was abandoned during the proceedings.

“From now abortions will be rightly treated as a health issue,” Justice Minister Andrew Little said in a statement following the vote on Wednesday.

“The previous law required a woman seeking an abortion to go through many hoops,” he said, adding: “The changes agreed to by parliament will better ensure women get advice and treatment in a more timely way.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51955148?fbclid=IwAR16B67UBWEWsZtJyXwBy6XgGwNWKKsxv7pY2USp52etfF1BoL6W9nePqNI