BANGKOK, Sep 28(ABC): Thailand will legalise abortion up to 20 weeks, the government said 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.
However, there remains intense stigma around the procedure in the Buddhist-majority country, scarred by a 2010 case when around 2,000 illegally aborted foetuses were discovered in a temple.
Terminations of up to 20 weeks would now be permitted, a government statement said Tuesday, adding “the termination will not count as crime”.
Previously, abortion was punishable by either a fine of up to 10,000 baht ($263) or six months in prison — or both.