The head of a charity and a former senator have welcomed a Throne Speech pledge to remove abortion from the criminal code.

They agree that more is needed to improve access to and affordability of pregnancy termination.

Juanae Crockwell, the executive director of the Women’s Resource Centre, who previously spoke out on the issue, and Arianna Hodgson, the former senator who pushed the issue of abortion to the fore in September in the Upper House, backed a commitment by the Progressive Labour Party to remove the requirements for a medical committee’s approval for terminations.

The Therapeutic Abortion Committee, made up of “obstetricians, a psychiatrist and a general practitioner”, authorises if and when abortions can go ahead in Bermuda.

Permission is only granted if the pregnancy resulted from sexual assault or incest, or if the mother’s life is at risk by going to full term.

Exemptions are also in place if the child is at risk of serious mental or physical abnormalities.

Kim Wilkerson, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, confirmed this week that measures would be implemented in this legislative session.

Ms Crockwell said: “The WRC welcomes legislative changes regarding pregnancy termination, particularly the removal of abortion from the criminal code and the elimination of the committee approval requirement.

“However, the Throne Speech did not provide sufficient details on these measures, making it difficult to assess their full impact.

“We encourage the Government to engage stakeholders in meaningful discussions to ensure that reforms address not just legal barriers, but also access, affordability and administration of the procedure.”

Ms Crockwell said that comprehensive policy development must balance access with safety, while considering all aspects of abortion care.

“One of the greatest challenges in Bermuda is cost,” she explained.

“Without insurance, a termination can cost between $2,000 and $3,000, even at the Government’s Maternal Health Clinic.

“A practical cost-reduction measure would be replacing the psychiatric assessment requirement with a general mental health evaluation, which could be provided by subsidised community mental health providers such as WRC.”

It is understood that at present, the required psychiatric assessment is only administered by specific providers and comes at a cost.

Should a community mental health provider, as opposed to a private provider, be permitted to perform the assessment at low to no charge, it is expected to lower the overall cost of the process.

It is understood that if an uninsured woman wishes to abort, she can go to the Maternal Health Clinic for the initial appointment but will then have to pay for blood work, an ultrasound, a psychiatry visit and the medical procedure itself.

Ms Crockwell said: “Additionally, the abortion pill, which costs approximately $600 in the United States, could be a more affordable alternative to surgical procedures.

“Integrating medically induced abortion into existing healthcare services is a feasible step forward.”

Ms Hodgson, who advocated for the decriminalisation of abortion to be included in the PLP’s 2025 platform, said abortion should be seen as a healthcare issue rather than criminal.

She added: “It genuinely saddens me that women are often forced to choose between their health and their financial wellbeing.

“As they move forward with healthcare reform, this government must be intentional about ensuring that every woman, regardless of her financial situation, has access to the care she deserves.

“While medical advice is important, women also need access to counselling, support and unbiased information to help them make the best decision for themselves.”

Ms Crockwell pointed to jurisdictions such as Germany and Cuba, which she said offered models Bermuda should consider.

She said that abortion was legal in Germany and was regulated under the Pregnancy Conflict Act. It includes mandatory counselling and a three-day waiting period to support informed decision-making.

In Cuba, Ms Crockwell noted, abortion is fully integrated into the national healthcare system and provided free of charge within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

She said: “These models demonstrate different approaches to balancing access, safety and informed choice while maintaining a woman's right to reproductive healthcare.”

From a mental health standpoint, Ms Crockwell said that the WRC was “open and willing” to support women navigating the decision to go through with an abortion.

“We recognise the emotional and psychological factors involved and offer compassionate, non-judgemental counselling to ensure women feel supported before and after the procedure,” she said.

“Pre and post-abortion counselling could be incorporated into a holistic reproductive healthcare approach, ensuring women receive emotional and psychological support while addressing the broader social and economic reasons behind their choices.

“WRC firmly believes that reproductive healthcare decisions should be made in consultation with medical professionals, not dictated by rigid policies.

“Ultimately, WRC is advocating not only for legal reform but also for comprehensive access to abortion care, ensuring that every woman in Bermuda can make informed, supported and autonomous decisions about her reproductive health.”

Ms Hodgson said she did not believe adequate mental health resources were available but acknowledged that there were organisations “ready to step in”.

She added: “While medical advice is important, women also need access to counselling, support and unbiased information to help them make the best decision for themselves.

“As we work to modernise our abortion laws, access to support services must be prioritised, both before and after the procedure.

“Providing ongoing emotional and psychological support helps break stigma and ensures women feel fully supported throughout their journey, not just at the time of the procedure.”

Ms Crockwell said there was a stigma attached to abortion in Bermuda driven by cultural and religious influences.

She added: “While these perspectives are valid, they should not infringe on a woman’s right to bodily autonomy.”

Ms Hodgson agreed, saying that stigma creates unnecessary barriers for women.

“We need to foster understanding and empathy, and that starts with education, awareness and advocacy.

“No woman should ever feel ashamed of choosing what’s best for her.”

Activist group Social Justice Bermuda also welcomed the promise to revisit the legislation after it first appeared in the PLP platform.

SJB said there should also be expanded insurance to cover the procedure of pregnancy termination, timely access and inclusion of the matter in discussions around universal healthcare.