The government issued on Wednesday an advance notice of revisions to the Criminal Code and Mother and Child Health Act that will allow women to have an abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. 

The ministries of justice, health and welfare, and food and drug safety created the revisions.   

The changes are follow-up measures to a Constitutional Court ruling in April of last year, when the court said an outright ban on abortion goes against the Constitution, calling for amendments to current abortion laws.  

Also under the revisions, women will be allowed to have an abortion between week 15 and 24 of pregnancy for certain reasons, including serious health risks or being a victim of sexual assault.  

The government is aiming to swiftly submit the revisions to the National Assembly after they undergo deliberation by the Ministry of Government Legislation and the Cabinet so that they will go into effect within this year.