A reproductive rights framework supporting law reform on termination of pregnancy in the Northern Territory of Australia

This article describes the reproductive rights framework underpinning the campaign to reform the law on termination of pregnancy in the period 2013 to 2017 in the Northern Territory of Australia. We begin by outlining the pre-reformed legislation governing abortion in the NT. We then evaluate the reformed 2017 law using the typology established by Cook and Ngwena,[1] namely: (1) whether the law provides evidence-based access to health care; (2) whether it provides transparent access to health care; and (3) whether it provides fair access to health care. We finish by remarking on the continuing problems with the legislation and conclude that only complete decriminalisation will fulfil Australia’s commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (‘CEDAW’) and other human rights instruments.