Japan urged to abolish third-party consent from abortion law

Restrictions amount to sexual assault' on women by Japanese state, say rights campaigners

Women's health campaigners have urged Japan's government to amend a law that forces married women to seek consent from their husbands before they can have an abortion.

Japan is one of only 11 countries that require third-party consent for abortions, despite calls to end the practice by the World Health Organization and other groups.