International – REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS ALERTS

16 Nov

Do Abortion Pills Expire? What To Know About Stockpiling the Drugs

MollyInternational, Latest News, United StatesAbortion Care, Abortion Pills, Expiration, Health care, mifepristone, Plan B, Planned Parenthood, Reproductive rights

"Last year, the majority of abortions in the United States were conducted using the abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol.1 Demand for these medications surged after Donald Trump was elected to a second term, driven by fears that his administration would impose further restrictions on reproductive care. Currently, many Americans can get abortion pills by mail, even in states that have abortion restrictions.2 The abortion pills are 87–99% effective, depending on the timing and dosage.3 “Abortion, including use of abortion pills at home, is very safe. What’s dangerous is stigma and policies that restrict people from accessing reproductive health care,” Robin Wallace,…

14 Nov

Nova Scotia election: Why are abortion rights being brought up?

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Rights, Campaign, Canada, Nova Scotia, US influence

“While abortion has been legal in Canada for decades, it’s not stopping Canadian politicians from following their American counterparts by using reproductive care as a political tool. Heidi Petracek explains why abortion rights are coming up on the campaign trail in Nova Scotia’s provincial election…”

08 Nov

New Brunswick to allow medicare to pay for surgical abortions outside hospitals

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Care, Canada, Health care, Holt Government, Medicare, New Brunswick, Surgical Abortions

"Surgical abortions administered outside hospitals in New Brunswick will now be fully funded by medicare, Premier Susan Holt announced Thursday, reversing a controversial rule from 1984 that limited the procedure’s availability across the province. Before the change, the government would only cover the cost of the surgical procedures if they were performed in one of three hospitals. Holt, whose Liberals came to power in an election last month, said her government’s decision is an important first step to improve abortion access. “We believe that abortion is health care, and that everyone deserves access to the care that they need, when…

01 Nov

Why the American abortion debate is affecting access in Kenya

MollyInternational, Latest News, United StatesAbortion Access, Abortion Care, abortion debate, Health care, Kenya, Reproductive care, United States

“Abortion is a closely watched issue in this year's election, and not just in the U.S. As president, Trump cut funding for international groups that offer and counsel on abortion services. With support from The Pulitzer Center, special correspondent Neha Wadekar reports from Kenya where advocates are watching for who wins. A warning, this story contains accounts of sexual and gender-based violence….”

01 Nov

Anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe banned from parts of South Australia’s parliament over alleged ‘threatening’ tactics

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAnti-abortion, anti-abortion activist, Anti-Choice, Australia, banned, parliament, threatening tactics

“Anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe has been banned from parts of South Australia's upper house, with parliament told she allegedly insulted, intimidated and threatened MPs on the night of a vote about late-term abortion law. Dr Howe has hit back at the ban, calling it a "total abuse of power" which she would "strongly contest going forward"….”

18 Sep

Buffer zones set to come in around abortion clinics

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Care, Abortion clinics, Abortion Legislation, Abortion Rights, buffer zone, England, protection zone, Wales

“Buffer zones will come into force around abortion clinics in England and Wales from 31 October. It will make it illegal to hand out anti-abortion leaflets within the buffer zone or obstruct anyone using or working at an abortion clinic. The protection zones, which will prohibit protest, will extend to a 150-metre radius around abortion services and those convicted of breaking the new law will face an unlimited fine.”

07 Sep

Poland eases abortion access with new guidelines for doctors under a restrictive law

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Access, Guidelines for doctors, legislation, New guidelines, Poland

"Seeking to ease access to abortion for women needing to end a pregnancy for health reasons, Poland's government is issuing guidelines to doctors Friday that reaffirm the legality of such procedures, based on medical recommendations. Under the current law, abortions for health reasons are permitted but the previous conservative government limited some other qualifying circumstances, leading to mass street protests and heightening the reluctance of doctors to expose themselves to a possible prosecution...."

30 Aug

‘Crisis pregnancy centers’ sue Massachusetts for campaign targeting their anti-abortion practices

MollyInternational, United StatesAnti-abortion practices, Campaign, crisis pregnancy centers, Lawsuit, Massachusetts, United States

"Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey launched a $1 million taxpayer-funded initiative in June designed to discourage people from seeking help from “crisis pregnancy centers” that are typically religiously affiliated and counsel clients against having abortions. The campaign includes ads on social media, billboards, radio and buses warning people to avoid the centers — which the administration dubbed “anti-abortion” — saying they're not to be trusted for comprehensive reproductive health care...."

28 Aug

Anti-abortion group sends flyers in support of N.B.’s parental rights policies

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAnti-abortion group, Canada, New Brunswick, Parental consent, Trans Rights, Transgender Rights

“A national anti-abortion group that sent out flyers accusing schools of "pushing transgenderism" plans to distribute more material to support Premier Blaine Higgs when he campaigns for re-election this fall. The flyers from Campaign Life Coalition, which were distributed across New Brunswick, also compare gender-affirming medical care — legal in New Brunswick for those over 18 or with parental permission — to "chemical and surgical mutilation."…”

12 Aug

Poland’s Abortion Reform Stalls as Coalition Politics Clash with Campaign Promises

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Care, Abortion laws, abortion reform, Health care, Poland

“Nearly a year after new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk promised a fresh start for abortion rights, following his election victory in October 2023, reform efforts have stalled as campaign promises collide with the realities of coalition politics in a divided Poland. Poland is amongst only four countries worldwide to have restricted abortion rights in the past three decades, joining El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the United States. In 2020, Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal, stacked with judges appointed by the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, further tightened the country’s already strict 1993 abortion law….”

06 Aug

Italy’s abortion divisions sharpen under Meloni’s leadership

MollyInternational, Latest Newsabortion division, Anti-abortion, Giorgia Meloni, Italy

“With Giorgia Meloni, Italy has probably the most openly anti-abortion prime minister in western Europe, but terminating pregnancies in the majority-Catholic country that hosts the Vatican has never been easy. When Linda Feki, a 33-year-old singer and musician from Naples, posted her account of stigma and abuse in undergoing the procedure, she received heartfelt messages of support from many Italian women who identified with her experience….”

01 Aug

Indonesia Legalizes First Trimester Abortions in Cases of Rape or Medical Emergency

MollyInternational, Latest News14 weeks, Abortion Care, emergency abortion, first trimester, Health care, Indonesia, Rape exception

“Indonesia will allow women to have an abortion up to 14 weeks gestation in some instances, from six weeks previously, as part of regulatory changes aimed at arresting one of Southeast Asia’s highest rates of maternal mortality. The new rule, signed into law by President Joko Widodo this week, follows demands from women’s rights activists and health-care practitioners who argue that the previous rule was too restrictive in cases of rape, leading some women and girls to be jailed for terminations beyond six weeks….”

04 Jul

Dominican Republic’s Senate Doubles Down on Abortion Ban in Criminal Code

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Ban, Bill, Criminal Code, Dominican Republic, LGBT+, Senate

"A deeply problematic bill for a new Criminal Code is now approaching final approval in the Dominican Republic's Senate. The bill, which the Senate approved on first review on June 26, maintains the country's complete ban on abortion. It also reduces penalties for sexual violence within marriage, classified as ‘non-consensual sexual activity,’ and continues to exclude sexual orientation from the list of characteristics protected from discrimination, thus failing to afford equal protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The Dominican Republic is one of only five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that maintains a total prohibition on abortion and imposes incarceration for women and…

18 Jun

Brazilian women protest bill that would equate late abortions with homicide

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Rights, Bill, Brazil, Healthcare, Late Abortion, legislation, Protest

"Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of São Paulo on Saturday as protests sweep across Brazil in opposition to a bill that would further criminalize abortions. If passed, the law would equate the termination of a pregnancy after 22 weeks with homicide. The bill, proposed by conservative lawmakers and heading for a vote in the lower house, would also apply in cases of rape. Critics say those who seek an abortion so late are mostly child rape victims, as their pregnancies tend to be detected later...."

18 Jun

First hospital fined for refusing to provide abortion under new Polish government rules

MollyInternational, Latest NewsAbortion Care, fined, Healthcare, Hospital, Legal abortion, Poland

"A hospital has been fined for refusing to provide a legal abortion in the first such case since the government recently introduced a requirement for publicly funded medical centres to offer such procedures. Health minister Izabela Leszczyna announced on Monday that the Pabianice Medical Center was fined 550,000 zloty (€126,300). She revealed that audit proceedings regarding two other medical facilities are also in the “final stages” and that they are also likely to be penalised."