Expanding access, reducing burdens, and improving person-centred care in abortion

Access to safe abortion care after 12 weeks of pregnancy is an essential component of ensuring all people's right to bodily autonomy. Although globally most abortions occur during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, people need abortions later in pregnancy for many reasons, including delayed discovery of the pregnancy, new information that arises about the pregnancy, changing life or health circumstances, and compounding barriers that delay access to care. Strategies to increase access to abortion later in pregnancy are especially crucial in settings where laws and other barriers prevent people from accessing abortion care in a timely manner.