On August 5, 2019, Justice Secretary Andrew Little announced that the government would introduce new laws that would give women access to abortion in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy without having to overcome legal loopholes, and remove abortion from the 1961 Crimes Act. However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was not a government bill. [59] Employers who provide abortion services are required to accommodate an employee`s conscientious objection, unless doing so would unduly disrupt her health care. Consideration of the employee`s objection may include the performance of these tasks by an existing employee. The Catholic Church in New Zealand has remained an opponent of abortion, teaching that life begins at conception. [113] The Aotearoa Presbyterian Church in New Zealand expressed concern that the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 does not protect unborn children and could lead to sex- and disability-selective abortions. [114] The CS&A Act has been criticized by feminist groups Campaign to Opposition Repressive Abortion Laws (CORAL) and WONAAC as being too restrictive and a violation of women`s reproductive rights. [27] In 1977, the government also amended the 1961 Crimes Act to allow abortions in the 20th week of pregnancy. After 20 weeks, the abortion was allowed on the grounds that it saved the mother`s life and prevented serious permanent damage to her mental and physical health. In 1978, the government again amended the Crimes Act to allow abortion to save the life, mental and physical health of the mother. Fetal anomaly during the 20th century.

week of pregnancy; and incest or sexual intercourse with guardians and family members. In 1986, the Crime Act was again amended to take into account factors such as extreme age and sexual assault. [28] [9] Veronica – who asked CNN not to use her real name out of concern for her privacy – wanted an abortion. But it wasn`t that simple. Dr Helen Paterson, a women`s health expert at the University of Otago, echoed Professor Henaghan`s assessment, pointing to Section 11 of the Abortion Act 2020, which states: “A qualified physician may only provide abortion services to a woman who is more than 20 weeks pregnant if he or she reasonably believes that the abortion is clinically appropriate in the circumstances.” Naturopaths should inform people of the availability of counselling services if they are considering an abortion. In the 1970s, the Catholic Church, conservative Protestant denominations and Mormons opposed abortion. In contrast, the Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian denominations adopted a more liberal stance; This led to controversy among its members. [16] [19] In addition, abortion has received support from some members of the New Zealand Parliament, including Labour MPs Mary Batchelor and Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, and National MPs George Gair and Marilyn Waring.

[16] A qualified physician may provide abortion services to a person who is less than 20 weeks pregnant without the need for clinical or other evidence of its relevance. Earlier this year, the United Nations Human Rights Council, in its review of the country`s human rights, called on the New Zealand government to remove abortion from the crime law. In 1983, National Representative Doug Kidd, with the support of the SPUC, introduced a bill for Private Members known as the Status of the Unborn Child Bill. In response, feminist National Congresswoman Marilyn Waring introduced the pro-abortion Contraception, Sterilization and Abortion Repeal Act to challenge Kidd`s bill. Waring also leaked news about Kidd`s affair with a WONAAC parliamentary secretary. In the end, Kidd`s and Waring`s bills were defeated and no changes were made to existing abortion legislation. While Pryor blamed the hasty introduction of the unborn status bill for its defeat, journalist Alison McCulloch attributed the defeat of the law to Waring`s counterlaw and the Kidd case. [33] In 1936, New Zealand`s first Labor government set up a committee headed by D.G. McMillan to investigate the incidence of septic abortions in New Zealand. The report estimates that at least 13 out of every 100 pregnancies ended in a criminal abortion, with that number increasing in the previous five years.

During the same period, maternal mortality decreased, but the number of deaths due to septic abortions increased, accounting for two-fifths of total maternal mortality. Based on testimony before the committee, it was concluded that one of the main reasons for abortion was a change in social attitudes, “especially towards the education of large families” and “an attitude of compassionate superiority over women with many children.” Other reasons include the lack of adequate housing in cities, the lack of assistance for women with household chores and the widespread use of ineffective contraceptive methods. [12] [13] [11] Yet pro-choice groups say the country`s 42-year-old law creates stigma around abortion and forces women to jump through unnecessary hurdles to get one, causing emotional, physical and financial distress. “I can`t stress how much I was surrounded by people who didn`t see abortion as a big problem, but I still felt that level of social stigma,” Dylan said. “I`m still hesitant to admit to people I was pregnant.” Under the old law, abortion was a criminal offence in New Zealand and a woman could only legally have an abortion if two doctors certified that continuing the pregnancy would endanger her mental or physical health. The legislation modernizes abortion laws in place since 1977 and suggests that a woman should have access to abortion until the 20th week of pregnancy, with the advice of her doctor. On March 3, 2020, the bill passed second reading by a narrow majority of 81 to 39 and was referred to a Committee of the Whole House. [81] On 10. In March, a House Committee of the Whole considered and rejected several amendments, including reducing penalties for safe zones, abolishing legal testing for abortions up to birth, preventing sex-selective abortions, and calling for medical intervention in cases of unwanted live births. However, the committee passed two amendments, including one by Labour MP Ruth Dyson, which deals with conscientious objection, and one by David Seymour, the ACT MP who eliminates safe zones around abortion clinics.

[82] Only one person was convicted of illegally supplying abortion-prone pills. In the 1930s, Isabel Annie Aves was tried four times without conviction for “unlawful use of an instrument with intent to cause miscarriage.” [14] In the 1940s, activists like Alice Bush campaigned for access to medical abortions. [15] Dylan, now 31 years old and a teacher in Melbourne, Australia, was in a relationship at the time, but had no plans to have a baby. “I just didn`t want to get pregnant as soon as possible,” said Dylan, who had to endure morning sickness and fatigue while waiting for the procedure. “It`s a very disempowering feeling to be pregnant if you don`t want to be pregnant.” In mid-February 2020, the Commission on Abortion Legislation recommended safeguards to address sex selection and late-term abortions, remove some barriers for women seeking abortions, and require a doctor who approves abortion at 20 weeks to consult another health professional, including nurses and doctors. [76] [77] [78] In addition, Loheni issued a minority report criticizing the bill for what it saw as a lack of protection against fetal abnormalities and late-term abortions. David Seymour, president of ACT New Zealand, supported the special committee`s recommendations, but argued that the safe zones violated freedom of expression. [76] Other changes include allowing women to access abortion services themselves, ensuring that health professionals counsel women about counselling, establishing safe areas near abortion facilities, and ensuring that physicians with conscientious objection inform women about their attitudes and alternative services. The government took the Legal Committee`s third approach to testing subsequent abortions, but shortened the deadline to 20 weeks. The criterion for late-term abortions is included in clause 11 of the bill. Article 11 states that “a qualified medical practitioner may provide abortion services to a woman who is more than 20 weeks pregnant only if he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that the abortion is appropriate in the circumstances. [60] Abortion in New Zealand is governed by four statutes: the Abortion Legislation Act 2020, the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 (CS&A Act 1977), the Health Practitioner Competence Insurance Act 2003, and section 38 of the Child Protection Act 2004.

A woman who is less than 20 weeks pregnant can request an abortion from a doctor. A woman who requests an abortion after 20 weeks must seek approval from a doctor who will decide whether the procedure is “clinically appropriate” and consult at least one other qualified physician. [3] [7] [8] Before 24. In March 2020, New Zealand women were only able to have an abortion after consulting two doctors. [9] [10] The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand supports the decriminalization of abortion and sees it as a women`s empowerment issue. [118] [119] All Green MPs voted in favor of the Abortion Legislation Act of 2020 In the United States, however, some conservative states have taken steps to restrict abortion rights.