Recent trends in the legal status of induced abortion

During the middle and later years of the twentieth century, a movement to liberalize laws governing induced abortion swept the industrialized world and some of the major developing countries. The changes have generated an increasingly visible reaction among groups that seek to block further liberalization and re-institute restrictions on abortion. An examination of all changes in laws and regulations governing induced abortion that took effect between January, 1988 and February, 1993 found that the overall movement is still in the direction of liberalization of abortion laws, although restrictions have been increased in a few countries. During the time period studied, five countries made major liberalizing changes in their laws, while only one imposed major restrictions.