This Explanatory Note provides additional guidance and rationale for Amnesty International’s updated policy on abortion. Amnesty International has updated its abortion policy to ensure the organization is better placed to challenge the full range of human rights violations due to criminalization of abortion, to advocate for removal of all barriers to safe abortion and to promote reproductive, gender and economic justice. The Explanatory Note discusses the human rights impact of criminalization of abortion and outlines states’ human rights obligations in the context of abortion including related to creating an enabling environment for people to make autonomous and informed decisions.
