Luxembourg: Parliament decriminalizes abortion
Demonstration in front of the Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies.
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies passed a law December 2nd, 2014, by 38 to 22 votes, decriminalizing abortion and removing the mandatory second consultation for women wishing to “voluntarily interrupt pregnancy”. The second consultation becomes merely a “right” for those women who feel they “need additional advice.” The other key innovation is the suppression of the concept of “distress” in the legislation. In order to interrupt a pregnancy, women will no longer have to justify themselves; a consultation with a gynecologist will suffice. It remains illegal after the 12th week of pregnancy.
“With this bill, Luxembourg is joining the ranks of good students, of countries with liberal abortion legislation,” enthused Christa Brömmel from lobbyist group “Si je veux!” [If I want to!], quoted by Luxembourg daily L’Essentiel, on the day of the vote. According to Family Planning, “the law consecrates women’s right to self-determination.” But for Christa Brömmel, this is only a step; Luxembourg must move forward to “refundable contraception and a review of the list of funded contraceptives” and “emphasis on emotional and sexual education: development along this line is of key importance.”
(Sources: kipa-apic.ch – L’Essentiel – DICI no. 308, dated January 16, 2015)
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