Reproductive Rights Victory in Spain
In a major victory for reproductive rights in Europe, the Spanish Senate approved a sweeping new law that liberalizes abortion. Last April, the Center prepared a letter for the Spanish government and Parliament outlining the international standards and comparative law on access to abortion. Read the letter here >,
The new law recognizes a woman’s right to an abortion and legalizes the procedure up to 14 weeks gestation and up to 22 weeks in cases of risks for the life or health of the woman and in cases of fetal abnormality (with the approval of two doctors). After 22 weeks, abortion will be allowed in cases of fetal abnormality incompatible with life or in cases where the fetus has an untreatable or grave illness (as determined by a Medical Committee). The law will come into effect in June of this year.
Adolescents between 16 and 17 will be allowed to undergo an abortion without parental consent, but they will need to inform at least one of the parents. Regarding conscientious objection, the law establishes that the healthcare professionals actually providing an abortion can claim conscientious objection. It is not anticipated that this will compromise the access and quality of abortion services.
Under the previous law, which dates back to 1985, Spanish women could go to jail for getting an abortion outside certain strict limits — up to week 12 in case of rape and week 22 for a fetal abnormality.
