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ARCHIVED - Spain to reform the abortion law to give more rights to women
The new legislation aims to ensure that women in Spain can terminate their pregnancy in public health centres
The Ministry of Equality is preparing a structural reform of the abortion law in Spain that eliminates the “obstacles” observed under the current regulations. The first signs that change was afoot came in July when Minister Irene Montero announced that future reform was “imminent”. The initial draft is currently being prepared and should be ready by December.
The new legislation will be based around four main aspects:
- Guaranteeing the right to abortion throughout Spain
- Preparing a registry of medical practitioners who conscientiously object to the practice
- Allowing minors aged 16 and 17 to receive an abortion without parental authorisation
- Extending sexual education to the younger age groups
The overall aim of the reform, according to the Ministry, is to protect sexual reproductive rights and offer access to a practice that came into law back in 2010.
To mark the International Day for Sexual and Reproductive Rights on Tuesday September 28, Ms Montero launched a public consultation, open until October 12, in which groups and social organisations can offer their contributions to the new legislation.
One of the main reasons for pushing the reform, the Ministry explained, is the “bad practice” in relation to conscientious objection, something which they insist has led to the violation of the right of women to seek abortions in public health centres. According to the State Registry of Voluntary Interruptions of Pregnancy (IVE), in 2020 84.51% of terminations performed in Spain were carried out in private and subsidised centres, compared to 15.49% that were performed in public health centres.
Ministry sources explained that the new objective is to take the lead from the recent Euthanasia Law and create a registry of objectors so that any deficits in autonomous communities can be rectified. In addition, they aim to ensure that public hospitals can guarantee the right to abortion without patients having to travel to different regions to avail of the service.
Other objectives include tackling the “harassment” of women and staff outside the doors of abortion clinics and promoting the training of health professionals from a diversity and feminist approach.
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