New York Times: Spain’s regressive abortion bill
Johanna Westeson
Regarding “Spain’s alarming abortion debate” (Editorial, Jan. 18): When a country severely restricts women’s access to abortion, as Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is proposing in Spain, it shames and stigmatizes all women who may need to end a pregnancy. This is true regardless of their reasons, even for women who technically would have a right to abortion.
Poland is one European country that has moved from a liberal to a restrictive abortion regime — a policy that has resulted in an estimated 80,000 to 200,000 unsafe abortions each year. The situation Polish women face should serve as an instructive, dissuading example to Spanish lawmakers.
Proposing a harsh abortion law to sway voters is deplorable and a violation of women’s fundamental human rights. Progressive voices in the Spanish Parliament must continue to push back against Mr. Rajoy’s abortion bill.
Johanna Westeson, Stockholm
The writer is regional director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights.
