Ms Leah Hoctor:

In my expert opinion, when one takes a global perspective, yes. As a general rule, countries that allow abortion on a woman's request or on broad socioeconomic grounds, which are mainly countries in Europe or other OECD countries, do not see high rates of unsafe abortion or of maternal mortality. In countries where there are highly restrictive laws and which do not take a women-centred approach to law-making around reproductive health and abortion, which are largely countries outside of Europe, there are often much higher rates of unsafe abortion and maternal mortality and morbidity.