Unsafe abortion is the third largest cause of death during pregnancy globally and contributes to
deaths and serious illness in Timor-Leste. This study is a situational analysis of the quality of
treatment and preventative care available to women with unwanted pregnancies and unsafe
abortions in Timor-Leste. It examines the testimonies of women, doctors, nurses, priests, nuns,
judges, prosecutors and lawyers and a variety of other key people with direct experience of
unwanted pregnancy or unsafe abortion and reviews the current literature, policies and legal
context. It includes a maternal death audit and monitoring of service provision relating to safe
abortion services in four health facilities.