Abortion Legislation in Europe

1
Abortion Legislation in Europe

• Vicky Claeys
• Advocacy Manager
• 7th Congress of the ESC, April 2002

2
Europe Lowest Abortion Rates

•  Abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44
•  
• Belgium 6
• Netherlands 7
• Germany 8
• Figures for 1997. Source AGI Readings on Induced
  Abortion A World Review 2000

3
EuropeHighest Abortion Rates

•  Abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44
• Russia 62
• Belarus 58
• Romania 52
•   (Vietnam 63)
• Figures for 1999. Source Concise report on world
  population monitoring, United Nations 2002

4
Grounds on which abortion may be permitted

• save a womans life
• safeguard a womans physical health
• safeguard a womans mental heath
• rape or incest
• risk of foetal impairment
• socio-economic grounds
• no reason needed

5
Countries With More Restrictive Legislation

• Ireland risk to life of woman
• Poland as above
• Spain rape or other sexual crime
• serious foetal malformation
• Portugal as above
• risk to mental health of woman

6
Abortion Permitted onSocio-Economic Grounds

• Great Britain
• Finland
• Iceland
• Luxembourg

7
Abortion available on request (I)

• with compulsory waiting period and/or counselling
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Netherlands
• Slovakia

8
Abortion available on request (II)

• Up to 12 weeks
• Albania Armenia Austria
• Azerbaijan Belarus Bulgaria
• Denmark Estonia Georgia
• Greece Kazakhstan Latvia
• Lithuania Norway Moldova
• Romania Russia Sweden
• Turkey Ukraine Uzbekistan
• Total 21

9
Other types of restrictions

• Gestational limit
• Third party authorisation
• Medical facilities and practitioners
• Mandatory counselling
• Waiting period
• Fees paid

10
Conscientious Objection

• An obstacle for women seeking abortion in
• Austria
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Luxembourg
• Portugal
• Spain

11
Disparities in Application

• Examples
• Italy consent not always given to minors
• Albania actual cost higher than official cost
• Portugal women forced to seek abortion in Spain
• Poland lack of regulations to implement the law

12

• Abortions in Belgium
• 6 per 1000 women
• On demand until 12 weeks
• Advice about contraceptive use
• Pill use well established
• Contraceptives and abortion are affordable

• Abortions in Russia
• 62 per 1000 women
• On demand until 12 weeks
• Contraceptive advice not required
• The Pill is relatively new
• Contraceptives expensive abortion (in principle)
  free

13
EVOLUTION IN RUSSIA
n.a
Sources Ministry of Health of Russia (for
figures from 1989-1997), Population Policy
Databank maintained by the Population Division
of the UN Secretariat (for figures for 1999)
14
ABORTION RATES IN EUROPENumber of abortions per
1 000 women aged 15-44
Source Population Policy Databank maintained by
the Population Division of the UN Secretariat
Figures are provided for the most recent year
available (Figures between year 1997 and 1999)
15
Implications of restrictive legislation

• Where illegal, abortion still takes place, but
• Lack of accurate data
• Inability to target abortion rate reductions
• Unable to ensure quality of care and services,
  and the right to health

16
IPPF European Network Statement on Abortion

• Adopted by the Regional Council, June 2000
• Abortion should be
• Legal
• Safe
• Accessible to all women

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Women have the right to

• Confidentiality, respect and professional service
• The freedom to choose their own doctor or medical
  practicioner
• Informed choice about the abortion method
• High quality and professional advice and
  counselling before and after procedure.