Contents
IVG: state of play in Europe
IVG: the most restrictive countries
Two members of the European Union still very strictly limit the use of abortion. In Cyprus, abortion is illegal in law, but nevertheless tolerated if two doctors certify that the pregnancy presents a risk for the woman or the unborn child, or in the event of rape or incest. On the island of Malta, on the other hand, abortion is strictly prohibited., whatever the reasons. Abortion is punishable by a penalty of 18 months up to 3 years imprisonment. The voluntary termination of pregnancy is also strictly regulated in two countries with a Catholic tradition: Ireland and Poland. In Ireland, since a law passed in July 2013, abortion is possible if the continuation of the pregnancy causes the woman to run a “real and substantial risk” for her life which must be certified by several doctors. The mother’s suicidal tendencies are included in this notion of “risk” but must be confirmed by experts. This relaxation of the legislation came after the death of a 31-year-old Indian woman, victim of sepsis after a miscarriage at 17 weeks of pregnancy. The young woman had been refused an abortion. More recently, Ireland made a historic decision. The country’s high court has allowed medics to disconnect an 18-week-pregnant woman who was brain-dead, in accordance with her family’s wishes. In Poland, access to abortion is still complicated. Intervention is only allowed in cases of rape, physical danger to the mother, or when an incurable disease threatens the life of the fetus.
To see in video: Being pregnant after an abortion, what consequences?
In video: IVG
In the majority of the other countries of the European Union, abortion is authorized on request until the 10th or even the 12th week of pregnancy, as is the case in France. In some countries, the legal deadline is even longer. Women can abort up to the 18th week in Sweden, the 24th week in the UK and the Netherlands. In Spain, access to abortion was almost severely restricted following a bill tabled by the conservative government of Mariano Rajoy. The latter provided that this intervention could only be carried out in the event of proven danger to the life, physical or psychological health of the woman, or after a rape, but excluded malformations of the fetus. In the face of protest, the reform was finally abandoned. Women can therefore still terminate their pregnancy until the 14th week. In Luxembourg, abortion is no longer a taboo: the country is moving towards an outright decriminalization of abortion. Until now, the voluntary termination of pregnancy was only authorized in the event of “distress”, after two interviews with a doctor, and a reflection period of three days. The new bill removes the notion of distress and allows abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy.
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