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An abortion rights advocate holds up a hanger during a rally to protest new restrictions on abortions, May 21, 2019, in West Hollywood, California. – Demonstrations were planned across the US on Tuesday in defense of abortion rights, which activists see as increasingly under attack. The “Day of Action” rallies come after the state of Alabama passed the country’s most restrictive abortion ban, prohibiting the procedure in all cases, even rape and incest, unless the mother’s life is at risk. Alabama is among about 14 states which have adopted laws banning or drastically restricting access to abortion, according to activists. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP)

Whose life is it anyway?

The way we deal with abortion is shaped and directed by the language we use to talk about it

(John McCann/M&G)

Safeguarding women’s rights during the Covid-19 shutdown

Women will be disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly considering their contribution as caregivers, in both professional and domestic settings

Abortion services only got a national “how to” document for doctors 23 years after termination of pregnancy was legalised in South Africa.  (John McCan/M&G)

Proposed New Zealand abortion law to give women right to choose

The government plans to overhaul the country’s current abortion laws

Abortion services only got a national “how to” document for doctors 23 years after termination of pregnancy was legalised in South Africa.  (John McCan/M&G)

Louisiana lawmakers pass fetal heartbeat abortion ban

The bans are expected to be blocked in lower courts, but supporters plan to appeal such decisions until they reach the Supreme Court

(John McCann/M&G)

Alabama senate passes toughest abortion ban bill in US

The text, which the Republican-led senate sent to Governor Ivey’s desk for signature into law, doesn’t include exceptions in cases of rape or incest

Nomthandazo* thought her and her partner were happily expecting their first baby together. She was wrong.

Forced abortions: The crime no one is talking about

Nomthandazo* thought her and her partner were happily expecting their first baby together. She was wrong.

Abortion services only got a national “how to” document for doctors 23 years after termination of pregnancy was legalised in South Africa.  (John McCan/M&G)

Abortion hypocrisy kills women

People who pass judgment on those terminate their pregnancies can have fatal consequences

The vote on the German-drafted resolution was held after intense last minute negotiations and additional changes in wording. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

UN backs weakened resolution on sexual violence in conflicts

Washington threatened a veto if the text spoke of reproductive rights

Louisiana and Kansas had asked the highest court in the land to intervene after losing their case against leading family planning group Planned Parenthood before federal judges. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)

US Supreme Court rejects state efforts to block abortion funding

Louisiana and Kansas had asked the highest court in the land to intervene after losing their case against family planning group Planned Parenthood

A reader asks that we report more on why people are against abortion. (Lee Jae-Won/Reuters)

Letters to the editor: October 26 to November 1

Our readers write in about M&G’s bias, and constitutional reform

Eddie Mhlanga is one of the authors of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act. (Dylan Bush)

‘I opened her up and found her womb was rotten from the infection’

Obstetrician Eddie Mhlanga often had to attend to women who had unsafe abortions during apartheid, when abortion was illegal in South Africa.

(John McCann/M&G)

Abortion: SA must speak up

Our country has a duty to ensure women’s rights are protected here and in the region

Many people still don’t know their rights under the law and when they can get an abortion. (AFP)

How readers like you are helping flip the script on illegal abortion providers.

We teamed up with readers and translators to create some of the first graphics ever on abortion in all South Africa’s official languages.

When the Trump administration formally reinstated the gag rule

US gag rule ties SA’s hands

Put a stop to the policy that blocks aid to organisations offering abortion services

“With 200 000 abortions a year in South Africa — and many of these are repeat abortions; not a second

How the ACDP peddled unproven fact in its bid to tighten SA’s abortion laws

The party cannot substantiate claims it made before Parliament in March, finds Africa Check.

(Reuters)

The sacred versus the profane

‘Circling each other now, each fighter coming in for the obligatory mock charge’

Police are seen at a new Pro-Choice mural by a graffiti artist collective called ‘Subset’ ahead of a 25th May referendum on abortion law

Irish citizens prepare to vote on abortion laws

Irish health minister Simon Harris says he has faith that Irish citizens will pass the referendum

“Mbali is the best thing that has ever happened to us but….we’re always cognisant of the fact that she had biological mother who must have experienced incredible emotional trauma in giving her up”.
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[LONG READ]: Why do parents abandon their babies?

Women who discard their newborns feel unsupported, often by the very professionals meant to counsel them.

A rare black rhino.

Download our easy-to-use safe abortion graphics in 11 languages for free

Abortion has been legal for more than 20 years in SA but many people still don’t know when or where they can get safe terminations. These can help.

Survé told the commission that this was the fault of media competitors who sabotaged the listing of Sagarmatha Technologies and “blatantly put negative propaganda in the public space”. (Lerato Maduna/Gallo)
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13 things that will change the way you look at abortion

Everyone’s got an opinion on it but can we say the same about the facts?