New Zealand's Parliament has voted in favour of a law to decriminalise abortion, a practice that has been considered illegal since 1977. Another great nation takes a step forward for women's rights.
For more than 40 years in New Zealand, abortion was the only medical procedure to be classified as a criminal offence. It became illegal in the country in 1977, except in certain specific circumstances relating to the mother's health, without ever permitting free individual choice. Now, after decades of struggle, abortion in the country will be treated as a health matter rather than a legal one.
The government of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern proposed a bill, passed with 68 votes in favour and 51 against, that decriminalises the termination of pregnancy, giving women free choice up to the 20th week of gestation. The vote was considered a "conscience" vote, meaning that members of parliament were not bound to vote along party lines. "From today, terminations of pregnancy will legitimately be treated as a health issue," said Justice Minister Andrew Little following the vote on Wednesday 18 March.
From today, terminations of pregnancy will legitimately be treated as a health issue.Andrew Little, New Zealand's Justice Minister
Until now, New Zealand law permitted abortion only in cases of incest, mental abnormality or foetal abnormality, or where the physical and mental health of the mother was at serious risk. Sexual violence and age-related factors were not officially included, though they were nonetheless taken into consideration. The penalty provided for, although it was never imposed on any woman, was 14 years' imprisonment.
"The previous law forced women who wanted an abortion to jump through hoops," said Minister Little. "The changes agreed by Parliament will ensure that women can access assistance and care in a more timely and appropriate manner." Indeed, under the rules that had been in force, women were required to be seen by multiple doctors, from general practitioners to psychologists, causing delays in the weeks during which they could seek an abortion. In this respect, some women were driven to feign problems in order to speed up the process and invoke the exceptions permitted by law. "I have seen women face delays, difficulties, challenges, judgements, abuse, and being marginalised and criminalised because of our law," commented MP and former Justice Minister Amy Adams.
I have seen women face delays, difficulties, challenges, judgements, abuse, and being marginalised and criminalised because of our law.Amy Adams, New Zealand MP
With the law just passed, New Zealand brings itself into line with other countries that have decided to embark, at last, on the path towards women's rights and gender equality. "Finally the New Zealand parliament has brought abortion law into the 21st century, it only took 44 years," commented Terry Bellamark, director of the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand (Alranz). "Parliament has recognised that women have autonomy over their own bodies – and that is a huge step. Being able to control one's own fertility is a crucial factor in everyone's life – it would be difficult to achieve equality without it."
