BELGIUM – Decriminalisation of abortion: the debate is re-opened in the parliament

by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion
Nov 1, 2019

Members of the Justice Committee in the Belgian parliament have re-opened the debate on the decriminalisation of abortion. Five bills have been tabled, all of which go further than the current law, as amended in October 2018. But there are differences between the bills and the parties supporting them. Hence, there may not be a sufficient majority for decriminalisation of abortion.

The law reform of October 2018 legalised abortion under in certain conditions, but did not achieve true decriminalisation because penal sanctions were retained for abortions outside the legal grounds. For example, the upper time limit of 12 weeks remains in place. A reflection period of six days was also kept. Only in cases of medical emergencies was the time limit increased. This was a compromise between the parties, but it was rejected by many as “false decriminalisation”.

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/belgium-decriminalisation-of-abortion-debate-re-opened-in-parliament/