Abortion Laws, International

Although it is considered a medical procedure, most countries in the world deal with abortion through the law, whether to restrict access to abortion or provide full access to abortion services. However, legal regulation of abortion, referred to in some countries as termination of pregnancy, varies widely throughout the world. The domestic legal regulation of abortion can be found in a variety of legal authorities, including the penal code, domestic constitutions, and case law. For example, in Swaziland the Constitution specifically provides women the right to abortion in cases where there is a serious threat to the mental and physical health of the pregnant woman, fetal impairment, or rape or incest. In contrast, in the United States, one of the primary sources of legal ...