Countries legalizing Abortion

Abortion has been a controversial subject in many societies throughout history on religious, moral,
ethical, practical, and political grounds. It has been banned frequently and otherwise limited by law.
However, abortions continue to be common in many areas, even where they are illegal. According to
the World Health Organization , abortion rates are similar in countries where the procedure is legal and
in countries where it is not, due to unavailability of modern contraceptives in areas where abortion is
illegal. Approximately, 39 countries allow abortion only when needed to save a woman's life. Thirty-six
also allow abortion to protect the mother's physical health. Twenty-four other countries explicitly
specify a threat to a woman's mental health as grounds for legal abortion.
Iceland, then, was the first Western nation to create what we might now recognize as a common
modern abortion legalization policy, with a set of conditions making the procedure not impossible but
not entirely unregulated. Abortion was first legalised in Spain in 1985 in cases of rape or physical
damage to the mother or child. The scope of the law was broadened in 2010 by the last socialist
government, which allowed abortion up to 22 weeks in cases of foetal deformities. Abortion is legal in
all U.S. states, and every state has at least one abortion clinic. Abortion is a controversial political issue,
and regular attempts to restrict it occur in most states. Abortion in Canada is legal at all stages of
pregnancy and funded in part by the Canada Health Act. Abortion in Ireland is regulated by the Health
(Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. Abortion is permitted during the first twelve weeks
of pregnancy, and later in cases where the pregnant woman's life or health is at risk, or in the cases of a
fatal foetal abnormality. Abortion in Italy became legal in May 1978, when Italian women were allowed
to terminate a pregnancy on request during the first 90 days. Abortion in France is legal on demand up
to 12 weeks after conception (14 weeks after the last menstrual period). Costa Rican law  states that
an abortion is legal if performed with the consent of the woman and performed by a doctor or
authorized obstetrician and “when done in order to avoid a threat to the mother's life or health” and
when no other alternatives are available. In all, 95% of abortions in Switzerland take place during the
first three months of pregnancy. However, abortion is also legal beyond the 12-week limit, if the physical
and/or psychological health of the pregnant woman is in danger. In 2018, 528  abortions out of a total of
10,457 were carried out in this context. Currently, abortions are legal for citizens of Singapore,
individuals with an issued work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, or individuals
who have been a resident of Singapore for a minimum of four months. Abortions can also be received by
a woman whose life is endangered by the pregnancy.

Own stand on Abortion

- Tiffany Adrias

Abortion is a very sensitive topic which is also emotive in terms of having to remove a life of an innocent
that you created. Most Asian considered it a sin and an act of crime. However, under the circumstances
of women who’s unprepared and not willing to take the responsibility especially for a teenage mom will
not consider any of everyone’s opinion. I, on the other hand, disagree on this procedure. There are a lot
of cases wherein family will judge you, people may say negative things about you or your significant
other is no longer supporting you that will cause psychological stress as well but never do I make
abortion an option to escape from it. In addition to women having an unwanted pregnancy always
trigger their end of senses leading to Abortion. A baby is a blessing not a sin and here in our country it’s
illegal.