Global Map of Norms regarding Conscientious Objection to Abortion

Country

References

YesYes
NoNo
No informationNo information

Category

Indicators

With ruling of a higher court
Recognizes the individual right to CO
Recognizes institutional CO
Bans institutional CO
Allows any health provider to invoke CO
Allows only those who perform abortions to invoke CO
Imposes duties on those who exercise CO
Requires formality to exercise CO
Criminal or health law varies in each local jurisdiction
Establishes individual limits to CO
Recognizes institutional safeguards

CO Standards

Constitutional More info
Legal More info
Regulatory More info
Rulings More info

Additional information

Ramón Michel A, Repka D. Global Map of Norms regarding Conscientious Objection to Abortion. Buenos Aires: REDAAS & Ipas. 2021 [updated to December 2023]

CO Standards

Information Sheets

Global discussion on conscientious objection to abortion (Mayo 2022)
19/05/2022
Inglés
Agustina Ramón Michel y Dana Repka

The first English version of the Global Map of Norms regarding Conscientious Objection was released on April 7. This is an online map that systematizes legal sources on Conscientious Objection (CO) to abortion from more than 180 countries and other administrative agencies worldwide, a research carried out by Agustina Ramón Michel and Dana Repka (CEDES). Social science scholars, health providers, lawyers and activists from Argentina, the United States, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, and FIGO experts on CO came together to discuss the topic. Space for main ideas, data, and discussions.

documento

Graphics

Permission/Prohibition. Countries that recognize CO versus countries that prohibit it. Countries that recognize CO versus countries that ban it.

3% – Ban
97% – Recognition

Source: Own elaboration.

Base: Total number of countries: 89.

Adjudication. Countries that recognize institutional CO versus countries that do not.

3% – Individual adjudication
97% – Institutional adjudication

Source: Elaboración propia.

Base: Total number of countries: 86.

Type of limits. Number of countries that recognize each of the six identified limits.

Source: Own elaboration.

Base: Total number of countries: 71.

Limits. Countries that recognize CO with explicit limits versus countries that recognize CO without clear limits.

16% – Recognition without explicit limits
84% – Recognition with explicit limits

Source: Elaboración propia.

Base: Total number of countries: 85.*

* It should be noted that Australia has been excluded because even though there are clauses that recognize CO in all Australian federal states, these regulations establish limits that vary significantly from state to state, therefore we were unable to identify findings that apply to the entire country.

Institutional safeguards. Countries that recognize CO with institutional safeguards versus countries that recognize CO without institutional safeguards.

24% – Recognition with institutional safeguards
76% – Recognition without institutional safeguards

Source: Elaboración propia.

Base: Total number of countries: 85.

Videos

Complete Webinar: Unveiling the 2022 Global Map of Norms regarding Conscientious Objection in English
11/05/2022
Inglés

En este panel, se llevó a cabo la presentación de un mapa interactivo de las normas de OC de 180 países. Durante el encuentro contamos con la presencia de académicas de ciencias sociales, proveedores de salud, abogadas y activistas para discutir sobre lo que está sucediendo en algunos de los países con la OC y sobre cómo la ley-en-acción opera vis a vis la ley-en-los-libros.

MODERACIÓN
00:00:00 – Sonia Ariza Navarrete (REDAAS)

PANELISTAS
00:04:53 – Dana REpka (CEDES-REDAAS): Mapa Global
00:12:27 – Agustina Ramón Michel & Dana Repka (Universidad de Palermo-CEDES): Mapa Global
00:19:53 – Wendy Chavkin (Universidad de Columbia): Mapa Global
00:29:17 – Pauline Capdeville (UNAM): México
00:41:00 – Matokgo Makutoane (Ipas): Sudáfrica
00:55:25 – Letizia Mencarini (Universidad Bocconi): Italia
01:08:18 – Rodica Comendant (FIGO)

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Global map of norms regarding conscientious objection to abortion: Map presentation (2021)
12/10/2021
Inglés

In this video, Dana Repka (lawyer, researcher at CEDES) explains the creation of the first world map of rules on Conscientious objection to abortion.
This map takes more than 400 norms belonging to 179 countries related to the regulation of conscientious objection.

The map was created by CEDES. Center for State and Society Studies and REDAAS, with the financial support of Ipas México and the participation of ELA – Latin American Team for Justice and Gender.

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v2JXYi7An2A
Global map of norms regarding conscientious objection to abortion: Main findings (2021)
12/10/2021
Inglés

In this video, Agustina Ramón Michel (lawyer, CEDES researcher, member of the Red ALAS and the REDAAS’ Coordinating Team) explains the main findings behind the creation of the first world map of norms on Conscientious objection to abortion.
This map takes more than 400 norms belonging to 179 countries related to the regulation of conscientious objection.

The map was created by CEDES. Center for State and Society Studies and REDAAS, with the financial support of Ipas México and the participation of ELA – Latin American Team for Justice and Gender.

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