New Zealand passes bill to decriminalise abortion

New Zealand on Thursday passed a bill with a resounding victory to decriminalise abortion.

The bill that ends the restrictive law in New Zealand allows women to self-refer to abortion clinics within the first 20 weeks of gestation.

The bill was passed with 94 votes in favour and 23 against it.

The earlier lawlisted abortion as a crime and was allowed only after the assent of two doctors, to save a pregnant woman's life from mental or physical danger.

Speaking in favour of the bill, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the time was right to finally put women's dignity and their rights at the centre of this discussion.