Abortion in Monaco is illegal except in cases of rape, fetal deformity, illness, or fatal danger to the mother.[1] The most recent abortion legislation was enacted on 8 April 2009; before then Monaco had one of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, only allowing the procedure if there was deemed to be a very high risk of fatality for the woman.[2]
The previous abortion law, from 1967, outlawed abortion under any circumstance, but other previous criminal law cases agreed abortion was acceptable if it saved the life of the woman.[2] Under the old law, women undergoing an illegal abortion were subject to a prison term up to three years, with the abortion provider subject to a prison term up to five years.[2] If the abortion provider was in the medical profession, their right to practice medicine would be taken away.[2]
In August 2019, abortion was decriminalised in Monaco, though it was not legalised.[3]
While abortion is partially legal in Monaco, Monaco itself is surrounded on three sides by France, where elective abortion care is completely legal and available.[4]