Philippines’ abortion ban drives women to risky, underground services

AI Summary

The Philippines maintains a strict abortion ban, leading women to rely on risky underground services to terminate pregnancies. The arrest of a woman selling abortion pills highlights the shadow economy and health risks faced by women in the country.

The arrest of a 65-year-old woman accused of selling abortion pills in Manila has offered a glimpse into the shadow economy growing around ending unwanted pregnancies in the Philippines, one of the few countries in the world where the procedure remains criminalised in almost all circumstances. For women and girls trying to end unwanted pregnancies, access often depends on online sellers, market vendors, whispered referrals and the uncertain quality of pills bought far from formal medical care,...