The Right to Abortion in North Macedonia: A Brief Study

Equitable access to safe abortion is part of the corpus of human rights. Providing women with access to safe abortion means protection and realization of one of their fundamental human rights. However, around the world, even nowadays, women face not only legal obstacles, but as well stigmatization and conviction against fulfillment of the right to abortion. Where abortion is illegal, women often seek unsafe abortion service and face serious consequences. Provision of safe, legal abortion and family planning are essential for life free of violence, discrimination and degrading treatment. In North Macedonia there a multiple type of barriers and large inequalities related to the accessibility and availability of reproductive health care services. Women with low socio-economic status are mostly affected. The need for contraception has not been met and reproductive health care services are unevenly distributed across the country. The brief study indicates the need for appropriate information for family planning, sexuality education, equal and equitable treatment and access to medical services for all women.