In Rwanda, abortion remains a criminal offence under Article 123 of Law Nº68/2018 of August 30, 2018 on offences and penalties in general, although the law provides narrowly defined exceptions under which a pregnancy may be lawfully terminated by a qualified medical doctor.
The legal framework is further detailed in Ministerial Order N°002/MoH/2019 of April 8, 2019, which sets out the conditions and procedures for accessing safe and legal abortion services. Rwanda is also a signatory to the Maputo Protocol, which promotes women’s rights, including access to reproductive health services, and ratified it in 2004.
Under Rwandan law, abortion is permitted only in specific circumstances, including when the pregnancy results from rape, incest up to the second degree of kinship, or forced marriage, as well as when the pregnancy involves a minor or when it poses a risk to the life or health of the mother or the fetus. In all such cases, the procedure must be carried out by a licensed medical doctor in an approved health facility, following written consent and counselling.
Despite these exceptions, any abortion performed outside the legal framework remains punishable. The law provides for prison sentences ranging from one to five years depending on the offence, with more severe penalties in cases where the procedure results in serious harm, disability, or death. Fines may also apply in certain circumstances.
Authorities, including the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), have repeatedly warned that unsafe abortion practices not only endanger lives but also constitute criminal offences. They urge individuals who meet the legal criteria to seek services only through authorized health facilities.
