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Update on abortion law reform in Scotland
The Scottish government is planning to reform abortion law. An expert group was set up in 2024 and its recommendations were published in November 2025.
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The Scottish government asked key stakeholders, including the RCN, to share views on the 36 recommendations that set out what reforms the expert group think the Scottish government should make. Our feedback will be used by the Scottish government to inform their next steps, and we expect the government to publish its proposals for abortion reform later this year or early 2027.
Most of the 36 recommendations made by the expert group are in keeping with RCN’s positions on abortion law reform. Our positions focus on the right to choose; access to safe care; the right to conscientious objection except in an emergency; and that abortion is governed by regulatory not criminal law.
We do have some concerns about elements of the recommendations to do with the proposals to revise the grounds on which an abortion may be conducted and the responsibilities of, and protections for, healthcare professionals who may be involved in abortions. We have also raised concerns about the proposed penalties which may be applied to healthcare providers.
Andrew Jackson, RCN Scotland Policy Manager, said: “We believe that abortion should be treated as a health matter rather than a criminal issue and welcome the Scottish government’s work to reform the current law.
“We worked with members of our women’s health forum to develop our response to the Scottish government’s questionnaire, and we will be looking to engage members further when the final proposals are published.”
RCN Congress debated abortion law in 2024 and an updated position statement on termination of pregnancy was published later that year. If you would like to discuss our response to the Scottish government’s questionnaire, please contact policy@scotland.co.uk.
Most of the 36 recommendations made by the expert group are in keeping with RCN’s positions on abortion law reform. Our positions focus on the right to choose; access to safe care; the right to conscientious objection except in an emergency; and that abortion is governed by regulatory not criminal law.
We do have some concerns about elements of the recommendations to do with the proposals to revise the grounds on which an abortion may be conducted and the responsibilities of, and protections for, healthcare professionals who may be involved in abortions. We have also raised concerns about the proposed penalties which may be applied to healthcare providers.
Andrew Jackson, RCN Scotland Policy Manager, said: “We believe that abortion should be treated as a health matter rather than a criminal issue and welcome the Scottish government’s work to reform the current law.
“We worked with members of our women’s health forum to develop our response to the Scottish government’s questionnaire, and we will be looking to engage members further when the final proposals are published.”
RCN Congress debated abortion law in 2024 and an updated position statement on termination of pregnancy was published later that year. If you would like to discuss our response to the Scottish government’s questionnaire, please contact policy@scotland.co.uk.
