Spain Forms Panel To Re-Examine Abortion Law

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 09 Sep 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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A panel of experts has been appointed by the Spanish government to make recommendations on liberalizing the country's abortion law by the end of 2009 or early 2010, Equality Minister Bibiana Aido said on Thursday, Reuters reports. Aido said that the country needs to avoid a situation in which a woman "who needs to terminate a pregnancy" could face legal obstacles, adding that a "serious, calm and high-level debate which contributes to the drawing up of the best law possible" is needed. Abortion was decriminalized in Spain in 1985, and the number of abortions performed during the past 10 years has doubled, although the procedure still is controversial in the traditionally Roman Catholic country, according to Reuters. Although Aido did not provide details about changes she would like made to Spain's abortion law, she said it should "guarantee the fundamental rights and legality of women and the professionals who attend them." She added, "It must guarantee geographical equality, so that there aren't differences between autonomous regions" (Reuters, 9/4).

According to the AP/Los Angeles Times, the panel will include 13 physicians, lawyers and other experts. Aido said she could not specify if certain demands made by abortion-rights advocates will be met, such as abortions permitted in all circumstances up to 12 to 14 weeks' gestation. She also said she expects a bill to be presented to Parliament within the first six months of 2009. The law currently allows abortions during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in cases of rape, 22 weeks in cases of fetal malformation and at any time if a psychiatrist determines that the woman's physical or mental health is endangered. Abortion opponents call the last category a "loophole that is grossly abused," and the Association of Accredited Abortion Clinics estimates that a large majority of the annual 100,000 estimated abortions carried out in Spain fall into that category, the AP/Times reports. According to Aido, the current law needs to be changed to create consistency in its application throughout all of Spain's 17 semiautonomous regions, because some areas make it difficult for women to obtain the procedure or secure government financing (AP/Los Angeles Times, 9/4). Members of Spain's conservative party criticized the efforts, according to Reuters. "It would seem to me serious that an issue as sensitive for women ... should be used today as a smokescreen to cover up the economic crisis" in the country, party spokesperson Esteban Gonzalez said (Reuters, 9/4).

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