04/05/2026
STATEMENT | 31ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABORTION LAW
Today marks 31 years since the passage of Guyana’s landmark abortion law, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1995); a bold, progressive step that placed women’s health, autonomy, and dignity at the center of national policy.
For over three decades, this law has stood as a powerful recognition that access to safe, legal abortion is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right.
Our law is progressive because it affirms that no girl or woman requires the permission of a parent or partner to access abortion care. It guarantees abortion as a right of choice; not one contingent on proving r**e, in**st, or violation. A woman’s body does not have to be violated before she is granted the right to healthcare.
But anniversaries are not just moments of reflection; they are calls to action.
Across Guyana, barriers still persist; stigma, misinformation, inequities in access, and silence that continues to endanger lives. The promise of the law must be matched by the reality of access; for every woman, every girl, everywhere.
In rural and Indigenous communities, the challenges are even more pronounced. There are areas where there are limited or no providers of abortion care; where misinformation and disinformation shape decisions; and where the influence of religion continues to restrict access, reinforce stigma, and silence choice.
At the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), we are proud to stand at the forefront of this work. As the leading private provider of safe abortion care in Guyana, we remain unwavering in our commitment to delivering confidential, high-quality, rights-based services to those who need them most.
We do this not just as a service provider; but as advocates for choice, champions of bodily autonomy, and defenders of reproductive justice.
Today, we reaffirm:
• Every woman has the right to make decisions about her own body
• Safe abortion care must be accessible, affordable, and stigma-free
• No one should be forced into unsafe alternatives due to fear, cost, or discrimination
31 years later; the law stands. And so do we.
