right to bodily autonomy

This report highlights the global resurgence of challenges to women’s and LGBTQI+ rights, documenting instances where progress toward gender equality is being undermined.

Baek, Chung-Ah; Chopra, Deepta; Edström, Jerker; Lewin, Tessa; Metcalfe, Steve; Mushtaq, Samreen; et al. (2024). Building Solidarities: Gender Justice in a Time of Backlash. The Institute of Development Studies and Partner Organisations. Report. https://doi.org/10.19088/IDS.2024.041 
 

Parts IV, V, VI, and VIII of the Children Act of Trinidad and Tobago address child protection from sexual abuse, exploitation, and harmful practices. The law prohibits sexual offences against children, including child prostitution, sexual penetration, and child pornography. Causing or encouraging a child to engage in such acts can result in life imprisonment. Possession or creation of child pornography carries a sentence of up to 20 years. The Act also prohibits female genital mutilation (FGM). This includes any cutting or removal of parts of a child’s genitalia.

Repealed  * Division 10 of the Crimes Act prohibited and defined sexual violence against adults and children. Division 10 stated that a person consents to sexual intercourse if the person freely and voluntarily agrees (§ 61HE(2)). As provided in section 61HE(3), a perpetrator was deemed to know that the other person does not consent if they have actual knowledge, are reckless as to consent, or had no reasonable belief that the other person consented.

Abortion is generally illegal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, but is allowed under limited circumstances. Under Section 149(1), it is a criminal offence to unlawfully use any means to procure a miscarriage, whether or not the woman is pregnant. This carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

Abortion Act (239/1970, as amended)

Amendments to the Abortion Act of Finland, which widened the previously strict laws on abortion, entered into force on September 1, 2023. The amendments allow a pregnancy to be terminated solely at the pregnant woman’s request until the end of the twelfth (12th) week of pregnancy, i.e., without requiring justification. The previous conditions for terminating a pregnancy dated back to 1970 and provided that opinions by two doctors and the presentation of grounds were needed.

Saint Lucia Criminal Code, Chapter 2 Offences, Part 1 Offences Against the Person, Subpart D, Termination of Pregnancy and Childbirth Offence Causing Harm to Child at Birth, Section 165 Explanation as to termination of pregnancy and Section 166 Termination of pregnancy in certain cases

The Termination of Pregnancy Law Reform Act 2017 (the Act) in the Northern Territory was enacted to reform and modernize abortion laws, significantly improving access to abortion services and prioritizing women's health and autonomy. The Act allows for abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation on the advice of a single medical practitioner, who must consider the woman's physical, psychological, and social circumstances.

The Procedure establishes a list of measures and services for the prevention of an unintended pregnancy, abortion procedures, and the prevention of post-operative complications. In Ukraine, artificial termination of pregnancy is permissible at the woman's request up to 12 weeks. From 12-22 weeks, pregnancy can be terminated only under a number of conditions specified in the legislation, for example, if the pregnancy occurred as a result of rape or, the woman became disabled during pregnancy.