Ireland – Bill introduced to abolish ‘patronising and paternalistic’ three-day abortion wait period

Social Democrats say ‘cooling off period’ lacks scientific basis

Ellen O’Riordan, Marie O’Halloran
Tue Apr 28 2026

Pregnant women would no longer have to undergo a “patronising and paternalistic” three-day wait between attending a doctor and getting an abortion under legislation proposed by the Social Democrats.

The party wants the Government to amend the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, removing the mandatory three-day “cooling off” period, which the party says is “patronising and paternalistic” and lacks a “scientific basis”.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2026/04/28/bill-introduced-to-abolish-patronising-and-paternalistic-three-day-abortion-wait-period/

28.04.2026

News

3-day waiting requirement

conscientious objection

Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018

Holly Cairns

mandatory waiting period

Spain – A Second-Class Right

Spain’s Proposal to Constitutionalise the Right to Abortion

21 April 2026
Rosario Grimà Algora

The Spanish Government has recently approved a project for a constitutional amendment to protect the right to a voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion). This amendment would add a new paragraph to article 43, on the right to healthcare, to include the following text:

“Public authorities shall guarantee women’s right to voluntarily terminate their pregnancy under conditions of real and effective equality, with all the necessary provisions and services for that exercise.”1)

While the discussion of constitutional reform is welcome, the current amendment falls short of its promises.

Continued : https://verfassungsblog.de/spain-abortion-constitution/

The Right to Abortion in Colombia: An Interview with Alejandra Alemán

April 9, 2026
Women’s Link Worldwide

In recent years, Colombia has established itself as one of the countries with the most advanced legal framework on abortion in Latin America. However, legislative progress does not always translate into effective access for all women and pregnant people.

We spoke with Alejandra Alemán, an attorney at Women’s Link, to better understand the current state of abortion rights in Colombia, the changes following decriminalization, and the main challenges that remain.

Continued: https://womenslinkworldwide.org/en/the-right-to-abortion-in-colombia-an-interview-with-alejandra-aleman/

09.04.2026

Alejandra Alemán

conscientious objection

Resolution 051 of 2023

Ruling C-355 of 2006

social decriminalization of abortion

Women's Link Worldwide

Refusal of Care Laws Put Providers’ Personal Beliefs Ahead of Patient Well-Being

April 3, 2026
National Women’s Law Center

Health care is a basic human right, and everyone deserves access to the care they need. Yet across the nation, health care facilities and providers are refusing to give patients care, information, and referrals based on personal objections rather than patient needs. State and federal laws – known as refusal laws – allow such refusals, emboldening hospitals and individual health care providers to use personal beliefs to deny patients’ care, even if their refusals result in harm to patients.

Continued: https://nwlc.org/resource/refusal-of-care-laws-put-providers-personal-beliefs-ahead-of-patient-well-being/

Madrid introduces registry of doctors refusing abortions a new phase in abortion regulation

Madrid officials have begun discussions on establishing a registry for medical professionals who refuse to perform abortions. The new proposal has sparked debate among politicians and the public. The decision could impact access to healthcare services in the region.

Ricardo Rubio
April 2, 2026

The introduction of a registry for medical workers who refuse to perform abortions on ethical grounds could shift the balance between patient and doctor rights in Madrid. For residents of the region, this may mean changes in access to healthcare services and new regulations for hospitals. Authorities say the decision is aimed at complying with legislation and ensuring medical standards are met.

As El Pais notes, the Madrid government has published the draft document on a public consultation portal. This step allows not only experts but also ordinary citizens to share their views on the proposed regulation. Officials emphasize that transparency and consideration of diverse opinions will help prevent conflicts between medical staff and patients.

Continued: https://russpain.com/en/news-3/madrid-authorities-consider-registry-for-conscientious-objector-doctors-424961/

02.04.2026

News

anti-choice misogyny

anti-choice negligence

belief-based care denial

care denial

conscientious objection

How this abortion champion is expanding access in Mozambique

‘I will not stop fighting for safe abortion until no woman or girl is left behind’

March 16, 2026
Ipas

A tragic encounter early in her nursing career set Estrela Góia on the path to becoming a dedicated abortion champion who partners with Ipas Mozambique to train providers and expand access.

“I witnessed a lot of maternal deaths as a young nurse, and many were due to unsafe abortions,” says the maternal and child health-care manager with the Provincial Directorate of Health in Mozambique. “I remember once when a young woman came to our clinic with an incomplete abortion. She was desperate and afraid, but unfortunately, it was too late to reverse the damage caused by a back-alley procedure. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t save her. She died a painful, needless and preventable death, which deeply saddened me.”

Continued: https://www.ipas.org/news/how-this-abortion-champion-is-expanding-access-in-mozambique/

Could a registry of doctors who refuse abortions improve access in Spain?

By Léa Marchal, Brussels
13 March 2026
Podcast – 6 minutes, with transcript

In Spain, abortion is back in the political and legal spotlight.

A court ruling has just ordered the city of Madrid to create a registry of conscientious objectors. These are doctors in the region who refuse to perform abortion procedures.

Continued: https://euobserver.com/206829/listen-could-a-registry-of-doctors-who-refuse-abortions-improve-access-in-spain/

13.03.2026

Interviews/Podcasts

belief-based care denial

conscientious objection

conscientious objectors

European Social Fund Plus

Isabel Díaz Ayuso

registry of conscientious objectors

Europe

Spain

Human Rights

Spain – The Supreme Court orders Ayuso to open the registry of abortion objectors

Justice backs the Ministry of Health's appeal and warns of the Madrid government's "passivity" in complying with the law

March 9, 2026

Barcelona – The High Court of Justice of Madrid has ordered the Community of Madrid to begin "immediately" the procedures for the creation of the registry of objectors for voluntary pregnancy interruptions, a list mandatory by law and approved by the Interterritorial Council (with the presence of all autonomous communities). The minutes of the eighth section of the contentious-administrative chamber of the court is a new step in the tug-of-war that the government of the popular Isabel Díaz Ayuso maintains with the ministry of Mónica García in resisting the creation of the registry of professionals who refuse to perform abortions. In fact, the judges support the precautionary measures requested by the ministry.

Continued: https://en.ara.cat/society/the-supreme-court-orders-ayuso-to-open-the-registry-of-abortion-objectors_1_5672878.html

09.03.2026

News

abortion objectors

conscientious objection

Isabel Díaz Ayuso

Mónica García

registry of objectors

Europe

Spain

Law

Croatia Adds to EU Push for Safe and Accessible Abortion

Vuk Tesija
December 12, 2025

Representatives of the opposition Social Democratic Party, SDP, on Friday received members of the My Voice My Choice initiative, which has collected 1.2 million signatures across the EU, prompting the European Parliament to vote next week on a resolution that would guarantee the right of every woman in member states to accessible and safe abortion.

The Vice President of parliament, Sabina Glasovac, and the President of the Gender Equality Committee, Marija Lugaric, met representatives of the initiative from Slovenia and Croatia after the collection of the 1.2 million signatures.

Continued: https://balkaninsight.com/2025/12/12/croatia-adds-to-eu-push-for-safe-and-accessible-abortion/

12.12.2025

News

conscientious objection

My Voice My Choice campaign

NSW guidelines proposed to prevent hospitals from refusing abortion care based on personal beliefs

Lucy Barbour
Dec 11, 2025

Hospital managers and executives would be barred from blocking abortions because of personal beliefs, under new guidelines proposed for public health services across New South Wales.

A draft copy of the "termination of pregnancy policy directive", obtained by the ABC, includes a new section that specifically deals with conscientious objection among those managing and administering health and hospital services.

Continued : https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-12/document-reveals-plan-to-limit-blocking-of-abortions/106091562

11.12.2025