Antigua and Barbuda’s abortion laws will remain in force after the High Court rejected a constitutional challenge to the legislation.
Justice Jan Drysdale ruled that Sections 56 and 57 of the Offences Against the Person Act do not violate the Constitution. The applicants retain the right to appeal the decision.
Senior Attorney Dr David Dorsett, who represented the Attorney General in the matter, said the ruling does not mean abortion is unlawful in every circumstance.
He explained that an abortion can still be lawful where continuing a pregnancy poses serious risks to a woman’s physical or mental health, subject to proper medical assessment.
