Condition: In contexts where established and easy access to appropriate surgical backup and proper infrastructure is available to address incomplete abortion or other complications.

Implementation consideration

• Health workers providing abortion or caring for women undergoing abortion at gestational ages ≥ 12 weeks may have additional needs for professional and mentoring support.

KEY HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO MEDICAL ABORTION

• Everyone has a right to privacy and confidentiality in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care.
• Abortion regulation should be human rights and evidence based.
• States must ensure adequate access to essential medicines in an affordable and nondiscriminatory manner.
• Everyone has the right to scientific progress and right to health, which requires the availability and accessibility, acceptability, and quality of medical abortion. This means that States should ensure access to abortion medicines, and that evidence-based standards and guidelines for the provision and delivery of SRH services, are (i) in place and (ii) routinely updated to incorporate medical advancements. For further information and sources, please refer to Box 1.2 and Web annex A: Key international human rights standards on abortion.