Abortion Legislation in Europe

Vicky Claeys

Advocacy Manager

7th Congress of the ESC, April 2002

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

Europe:Highest 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

Grounds on which abortion may be permitted

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

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

Abortion Permitted onSocio-Economic Grounds

• Great Britain

• Finland

• Iceland

• Luxembourg

Abortion available on request (I)

- with compulsory waiting period and/or counselling

• Belgium• Czech Republic• France• Germany• Hungary• Netherlands• Slovakia

Abortion available on request (II)Up to 12 weeks:

Albania Armenia AustriaAzerbaijan Belarus BulgariaDenmark Estonia GeorgiaGreece Kazakhstan LatviaLithuania Norway MoldovaRomania Russia SwedenTurkey Ukraine Uzbekistan

Total: 21

Other types of restrictions

• Gestational limit

• Third party authorisation

• Medical facilities and practitioners

• Mandatory counselling

• Waiting period

• Fees paid

Conscientious Objection

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

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

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

EVOLUTION IN RUSSIA

Number of Induced Abortions in Russia 1989-1999 (millions)

3,4

2,852,6

2,03

4,254,18

2,3 2,26

3,2

3,72

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

4,5

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Years

nu

mb

er

of

ab

ort

ion

s

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)

n.a

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)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Belgium

Denm

ark

Finlan

d

Franc

e

Germ

any

Italy

Nethe

rland

s

Spain

Sweden UK

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

IPPF European Network Statement on AbortionAdopted by the Regional Council, June

2000

Abortion should be:

• Legal

• Safe

• Accessible to all women

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.