Abortion Legislation in Europe Vicky Claeys Advocacy Manager 7 th Congress of the ESC, April 2002.
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Transcript of Abortion Legislation in Europe Vicky Claeys Advocacy Manager 7 th Congress of the ESC, April 2002.
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.