Indonesia Extends Abortion Window for Medical Emergencies, Rape in New Health Law
On July 26, Indonesian President Joko Widodo signed Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024, extending the legal window for abortions in rape cases from six to 14 weeks gestation. Abortion remains largely illegal in Indonesia, with exceptions only for medical emergencies and rape.
The new regulation, accessible on the State Secretariat Ministry’s Legal Information and Documentation Network (JDIH) website, permits doctors to perform abortions in cases of medical emergencies or pregnancies resulting from rape or sexual violence. Article 122 paragraph 1 of the law states, “Abortion services can only be carried out with the consent of the pregnant woman concerned and with the consent of the husband, except for victims of rape.”
The new rule, signed by President Joko Widodo this week, responds to demands from women’s rights activists and healthcare practitioners who argued that the previous six-week limit for abortions in rape cases was too restrictive, leading to some females being jailed. The new law aims to address Indonesia’s high maternal mortality rate, one of the highest in Southeast Asia.
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