Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Gibraltar Voters Approve Liberalized Abortion Law

Last week, in a referendum, voters in Gibraltar by a vote of 7,656 to 4,520 approved the coming into force of Parliament's Crimes (Amendment) Act of 2019  The Act creates exceptions to the current near-total ban ban on abortions in the country. (Background on proposal.)  With certain restrictions, the law allows abortions in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy where there is risk to the physical or mental health of the mother. Abortion is allowed at any time where there is graver threat to the mother's life or health, or where the fetus has a fatal abnormality. Medical personnel may assert conscience objections to participating in abortions. AP reports on the referendum. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]