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Barriers persist 31 years after Abortion Law passed – GRPA
(Kaieteur News) – Persistent barriers to safe abortion care continue to affect women and girls across Guyana, even as the country marks 31 years since the passage of its landmark Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (1995), the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) has noted.
Stigma, misinformation, inequitable access, and enduring silence around abortion remain significant challenges particularly in rural and Indigenous communities, GRPA said in a statement on Monday.
Further, the entity noted that in some areas, there are few or no trained providers, while disinformation and religious influence continue to affect decisions, restrict access, and reinforce stigma.
The GRPA observed that these ongoing gaps underscore concerns that while the law guarantees access, its full promise has yet to be realised nationwide.
Monday’s anniversary of the legislation served as both a moment of reflection and a renewed call to action, GRPA said. Enacted in 1995, the law was widely regarded as a progressive step, placing women’s health, autonomy, and dignity at the centre of national policy.
“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 rape, incest, or violation. A woman’s body does not have to be violated before she is granted the right to healthcare,” the statement said.
For more than three decades, the Act has recognised access to safe, legal abortion as a fundamental right rather than a privilege. It allows women to seek abortion care without requiring consent from a parent or partner and does not make access contingent on proving rape, incest, or other forms of violation.
GRPA said these provisions remain critical in safeguarding bodily autonomy and ensuring that women are not forced to justify their need for healthcare.
“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,” the statement said.
As a leading private provider of abortion care, the body said it continues to play a central role in addressing gaps in access, providing confidential, rights-based services and has positioned itself as both a healthcare provider and an advocate for reproductive rights.
GRPA shared that more work is needed to ensure services are accessible, affordable, and free from stigma. The organisation also warned that barriers such as cost, fear, and discrimination can still push women toward unsafe alternatives.
Thirty-one years after its passage, the law remains in place. The challenge now, GRPA said, is ensuring that access to safe abortion care is not just guaranteed on paper, but realised in practice.
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