Thailand to legalise abortion up to 20 weeks

Activists from the Women for Freedom and Democracy group stage a protest outside parliament on Jan 25, 2021, to oppose the amendment to the Criminal Code that allows early-stage abortion but makes termination after the 12th week of pregnancy illegal. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Thailand will legalise abortion up to 20 weeks, the government said on Tuesday, relaxing pregnant people's access to the previously restricted medical procedure.

Terminations remained illegal in the kingdom -- except under incidents of rape or threat to the mother's life -- until February last year when it was lifted for women up to 12 weeks pregnant.