Ireland referendum on abortion in May

PARIS, Jan 30 (AFP): Traditionally Catholic Ireland has announced a referendum in May on easing some of the strictest legislation in Europe that imposes a near-total ban on abortion.

The poll will decide if abortion clauses should be removed from the constitution so the government can propose new laws allowing unrestricted terminations up to 12 weeks into pregnancy.

The country approved limited abortion for the first time in 2013 when the mother's life is at risk, but not in other circumstances such as rape or malformation of the foetus.

While many countries have similar allowances, around 18 ban abortion completely.

Here is a snapshot of the global situation based on information from the World Health Organisation and US-based Center for Reproductive Rights.

Predominantly Catholic Malta is the only European Union country to totally ban abortion, imposing jail terms of between 18 months and three years if the law is broken.

Abortion is also banned in Andorra, the Vatican and San Marino, which are in Europe but not the EU.