Thailand

House passes historic bill allowing first trimester abortion

Published

6 months ago

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Caitlin Ashworth

PHOTO: Siamactu

In a historic decision, the Thai House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy. Abortion is currently illegal under Thailand’s Criminal Code unless under certain circumstances, such as if the abortion is necessary due to health reasons or if the woman was a victim of rape.

Under the bill, which was sponsored by the Cabinet, women who are up to 12 weeks pregnant would be able to have an abortion performed by a qualified doctor. Woman would not need to give a reason for the abortion. Abortion would still be illegal for women more than 12 weeks pregnant.

The Move Forward Party had also proposed a bill that would allow abortions for women who are up to 24 weeks pregnant. The House of Representatives discussed the 2 bills yesterday and voted in favour of the Cabinet sponsored-bill. The bill will be reviewed by a committee in parliament.

An advisor from the international non-profit Women Help Women, Sulaiporn Chonwilai, says the organisation supports abortions during the second trimester. Sulaiporn says she helps many pregnant young women who sought to have an abortion after 12 weeks.

Sulaiporn adds that she wants MPs to remove Section 301 in Thailand’s Criminal Code that punish women for self-abortion or procuring an abortion. The offense carries a punishment of up to 3 years in prison and a fine up to 6,000 baht.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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12 Comments

Jesus Monroe

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 11:49 am

As a male I don’t want somebody telling me what to do with my body so it makes sense a women wants the same. Right to lifers are always happy to fight for a child to come into this world and not give a shit once it’s here……..

Reply
- Ipaddressfunnycolors
  
  Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 12:06 pm
  
  They’re the same people who say, don’t tell me to wear a mask. Its by body my choice. 55555
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 12:42 pm
    
    NO THEY’RE NOT, at least not in Thailand although that may have some element of truth elsewhere.
    
    In Thailand people are very well aware that if you don’t wear a mask it’s not you that’s at risk but other people since masks are to protect others, not the wearer.
    
    People shouldn’t have to be “told” to wear a mask but they should do so by “choice” based on social responsibility, not self-interest.
    
    Reply
Issan John

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 12:29 pm

I can respect the “right to lifer”s’ POV on the sanctity of life as it isn’t just a Christian view but a Buddhist one too, but anything has to be better than the horrors of back street abortions.

Like most matters of principle it isn’t just black or white and Buddhism allows for rational compromise, which this seems to be.

I’m anything but a fan of any military-based government, anywhere, including ones which re-write the constitution to ensure they retain power after they claim a ‘return to democracy’, but to give at least some in the present government their due this and the similar Bill on LGBT rights, both sponsored by the Cabinet, are seriously progressive – credit where it’s due.

Reply
- Ipaddressfunnycolors
  
  Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 4:28 pm
  
  Steven Levitt drew a comparison based on statistics that countries with out access to abortion led to higher rates of poverty and crime. There’s nothing more detrimental to a humans future than a parent who isn’t capable of being a parent. In usa it was predicted there would be wave of super criminals in the 90s, except it never happened and he attributed it to Americans having access to legal abortions
  
  Reply
  - Jesus Monroe
    
    Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 5:41 pm
    
    “There’s nothing more detrimental to a humans future than a parent who isn’t capable of being a parent.”……so true
    
    Reply
MSJF

Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 8:35 pm

Notwithstanding the comments made here, and the arguments made in favor of abortion due to poverty considerations and women’s “property rights” etc, abortion remains an abomination before God. A sad day for Thai ethics; they are following the West down a dark rabbit hole.

Reply
- Freddy The Frog
  
  Friday, December 25, 2020 at 5:51 pm
  
  Nutcase, there’s no such entity as god, it’s a fallacy purpitrated by people of little intelligence.
  
  Reply
- Issan John
  
  Friday, December 25, 2020 at 7:15 pm
  
  While hardly relevant in a country with a minimal number of Christians, could you name anywhere in the Bible that says “abortion remains an abomination before God”?
  
  Or anywhere in the Bible that mentions abortion at all?
  
  Anywhere at all?
  
  In any context?
  
  Reply
- ipafunnecolor
  
  Friday, December 25, 2020 at 8:03 pm
  
  Dude… God doesn’t care about human suffering… You people are not even human. We are humans living in a human world. God may or may not exist… that much is up for debate. Why did god allow for war or covid. my head is going to explode trying to rationalize my thoughts here. I respect your right to religous freedom, but religion is responsible for some of the most incomprehensible travesties, violence, human suffering, loss of freedom ever. Religion is a dark rabbit hole. Religion aims to control through fear. nuf said.
  
  Happy holidays!!! 😉
  
  Reply
Roger Fleck

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:38 am

Though shalt not kill that means small people dip stick

Reply
Roger Fleck

Saturday, December 26, 2020 at 6:40 am

this is not serious you have been duped have a covid beer and smile

Reply

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Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.