Under Papua New Guinea’s Criminal Code Act (1974), abortion is largely prohibited except under very limited circumstances. Specifically, Sections 228, 229, and 285 of the Act criminalize the unlawful termination of pregnancy: a woman who unlawfully aborts her own fetus faces up to 7 years imprisonment, and any person who performs an unlawful abortion may face up to 14 years imprisonment.
The use of the term “unlawful” within the legislation implies there are conditions under which abortion may be legally permitted. These exceptions primarily relate to situations where abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother or to protect her health. This legal interpretation is supported by the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy (2014), which permits the provision of safe abortion services where allowed by law.
The Department of Justice has clarified that legally qualified medical practitioners, who act in good faith and consult with another medical professional, will not be prosecuted when providing abortion services for valid maternal health reasons. This provides a legal safeguard for doctors providing such care within the framework of the law.
The Reality of Unsafe Abortions and Public Health Impact
Despite this legal provision, safe and accessible abortion services remain limited and difficult to obtain across Papua New Guinea, especially outside urban centers. Consequently, many women and girls resort to unsafe and illegal abortion methods, often involving unregulated traditional practices or harmful substances provided by relatives or local herbalists. These unsafe abortions frequently lead to serious health complications, including:
- Septicemia (sepsis)
- Hemorrhage
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Premature labor
- Maternal death
The public health consequences are devastating and place a heavy burden on health facilities. For instance, at Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae, the head of the Curative Health Department presented alarming data showing a significant number of women and girls seeking emergency medical care after unsafe abortions in 2024 alone. This figure is expected to rise if no effective interventions are implemented.
Child Abortion Emergency: A Growing Crisis
Adding to this urgent situation, Professor Glen Mola, Academic Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has described the increasing number of unwanted pregnancies and child abortion as an emergency. He reports that Port Moresby General Hospital receives about 50 pregnant mothers daily whose partners have either disappeared or never wanted the baby.
Professor Mola emphasized that many of these women, caught in such distressing circumstances, resort to unsafe abortions, often referred to as "child abortion," which further endangers their health and lives.
Medical and Policy Perspectives
Obstetrics and Gynecology specialists have consistently advocated for the availability of clinical, safe abortion services to prevent women from resorting to dangerous practices that often cause irreversible harm. As one specialist poignantly stated, “They come to us for help after they have done the damage.”
In addition to expanding safe abortion services within the legal framework, there is an urgent need to strengthen and scale up family planning and contraceptive services. Effective family planning can reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies, which in turn lowers the demand for abortion and contributes to improved maternal health outcomes.
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education, community engagement, and accessible contraceptive options are critical components of this strategy, helping empower women and girls to make informed decisions about their reproductive lives.
Conclusion
Papua New Guinea faces a critical challenge in addressing the gap between its abortion laws and the realities of women’s health. While the law permits abortion to save maternal life, the absence of widely accessible, safe abortion services drives many towards unsafe methods, resulting in preventable morbidity and mortality.
To protect the health and rights of women and girls, Papua New Guinea must urgently:
- Expand safe abortion services within the current legal framework,
- Enhance family planning and contraceptive availability,
- Improve community awareness and education on reproductive health,
- Strengthen health systems to provide quality, respectful care.
By doing so, the country will reduce the burden of unsafe abortion and maternal deaths and advance the health and well-being of its population.