Reform in Luxembourg

Luxembourg has voted to change its reproductive law and will now permit abortion procedures on request during the first trimester, according to the news site wort.lu:

Under the [new law], women will have unfettered discretion to decide whether they are “in distress,” a condition under which abortion is permitted.

Previously, the termination of a pregnancy was legal during the first 12 weeks only if the woman’s life or health was threatened, in cases of rape or
incest, in cases of fetal impairment, or for social or economic reasons. But the pregnant woman had to obtain a medical certificate from a doctor
confirming that she met one of these criteria. Parental consent was required for minors.

With the new law, the parental requirement has been abolished.

This is a great step forward for Luxembourg, but the Center urges its leaders to consider further reform. Women are still required to wait at least three
days before obtaining an abortion, and they must undergo obligatory counseling. And women face many more obstacles if they need an abortion after 12 weeks.

But Luxembourg joins Uruguay—which recently decriminalized abortion in the early stages of pregnancy—in the growing movement of countries expanding
reproductive freedom, as documented at the World’s Abortion Laws map. Every day, more women are exercising
their reproductive rights and attaining greater levels of equality and dignity.