Abortion in Peru

Is abortion legal in Peru?

Abortion in Peru is only legal when it endangers the pregnant person’s life or causes serious, permanent harm to their health. Abortion in Peru is not allowed on request. The only legal pathway, therapeutic abortion, is outlined in Article 119 of the Penal Code (1924) and further clarified in the 2014 Ministry of Health Technical Guide. It permits termination when pregnancy is the sole means to avoid death or severe long-term health damage. No gestational limit exists in law, though the guide focuses on pregnancies before 22 weeks [2].To qualify, a medical board must certify the health risk, sometimes referencing a list of eleven specific conditions or broader “maternal pathology” scenarios (e.g., severe preeclampsia, advanced heart disease, or fatal fetal malformations). Although the law doesn’t require police or judicial reports, healthcare providers can face institutional hurdles, stigma, and fear of prosecution [1].Despite the legal framework, unsafe abortions remain common in Peru. Recent studies [3,4] estimate that approximately 19% of Peruvian women aged 18 to 49 have had at least one abortion in their lifetime, with most occurring between the ages of 19 and 29. About one-third of these women required hospitalization due to complications from unsafe procedures.Each year, around 50,000 women in Peru seek treatment in public health facilities for complications related to unsafe abortions, highlighting a persistent and serious public health challenge. While exact mortality figures vary, unsafe abortion remains a significant contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality in the country.

Abortion with pills in Peru

In-clinic abortion in Peru