Spain: Plans for abortion on demand in first trimester

The Socialist government has formally unveiled proposals to reform the country’s abortion law.

Under the proposal approved by the cabinet, abortion would be made available on demand for the first time. Girls as young as 16 would be allowed to terminate a pregnancy without parental consent.

Ministers say it is about ‘rights and respect’ for women, BBC News Online reports. The conservative opposition says young people may see abortion as a form of contraception.

Spain’s current law allows a pregnancy to be terminated in three circumstances - in the aftermath of a rape, when a fetus shows genetic defects, and when the health of the pregnant woman is at risk. The government’s proposal is that abortion should be made available on demand during the first 14 weeks of a pregnancy.

The opposition has vowed to challenge the bill, arguing that it does not have broad support in Spanish society. The Catholic Church also opposes any change in the law, and has called on its followers to join an anti-abortion rally in Madrid next month.

The existing abortion law was passed in 1985 - a decade after the death of General Franco. On paper, it appears strict. But in practice, many Spanish women have been able to secure abortions by arguing that pregnancy was endangering their mental health.

Spain unveils abortion law change. BBC News Online, 26 September 2009

Also read:

Spain: Progress reported in abortion law reform Abortion Review 22 September 2009

Spain: Legal reform on the cards Abortion Review 15 May 2009

Spain: Church and state clash over abortion law reform Abortion Review 17 March 2009