Germany has a historic opportunity to modernise its abortion law
Center for Reproductive Rights welcomes presentation of new cross-party proposal to make abortion care equitable and more accessible
BERLIN, 14.11.2024—A cross-party coalition of Members of the German Parliament introduced a bill today intended to liberalise Germany’s abortion law. The proposed legislation would fully legalise abortion on request up to 12 weeks of pregnancy and remove the mandatory three-day waiting period, among other key changes.
This reform marks a long overdue step toward aligning German abortion laws with international human rights and public health standards, paving the way for more accessible reproductive care.
Currently, abortion in Germany is regulated in the penal code, where it is paradoxically classified as a criminal offence that is non-punishable in specific circumstances. This legal framework is both confusing and contradictory: although abortion is considered unlawful, individuals who undergo mandatory counselling and three-day waiting period can access abortion on request without punishment within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. This outdated system is an anomaly in Europe. It perpetuates stigma around abortion and discourages the provision of essential healthcare, leaving Germany’s abortion regulation at odds with modern, evidence-based healthcare standards.
The proposed bill follows a report from a government-appointed expert commission, released earlier this year, which highlighted how the current law falls short of international human rights and public health standards.
“At the moment, German abortion law is rooted in an outdated legal framework that fails to meet the health needs and respect the fundamental rights of women,” said Adriana Lamačková, Associate Director of National Legal Strategies for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “This legislative proposal represents an essential step forward. If adopted, it will move German abortion care closer to modern, evidence-based standards of care. We hope that German lawmakers will seize this opportunity to safeguard women’s health, autonomy and dignity.”
Today’s legislative move presents Germany with a historic opportunity to follow the clear trend across Europe towards the reform of laws and policies on abortion in a way that improves access to care and removes barriers.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Mihela Kralj, Senior Communications Manager for Europe, Center for Reproductive Rights: [email protected]
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