Abortion in Eswatini

In Eswatini, abortion is a criminal offence except on the grounds of pregnancy from rape or incest, risk to life or health, or fetal defects. Providing or receiving an illegal abortion is punishable by life imprisonment. This abortion law is from the 2005 Constitution of Eswatini, before which there was no written abortion law. In 2012, the Parliament of Eswatini debated the abortion law; some members supported legal abortion as a form of population control, while others opposed it as a form of killing. Advocates of legal abortion believe that illegality contributes to the maternal mortality rate. Illegal abortions are common in the country. Use of birth control is low. Unsafe abortions are a leading cause of death of women. Some women travel to South Africa for legal abortions. Post-abortion care is available but inadequate.

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