Major Overhaul in Abortion Laws: Government Announces Sweeping Reforms

The government has entered into three political agreements on abortion, which both push the ultimate limit and the abortion limit.

The abortion limit is raised from the end of the 12th week to the end of the 18th week of pregnancy. This is done to give women more time and opportunity to act on the knowledge they receive after prenatal examinations.

An agreement has been made to replace the five regional abortion committees with a new national abortion board. This is done to strengthen women’s legal security by ensuring a consistent and transparent practice throughout the country for decisions regarding late-term abortion, thus avoiding the regional differences that have previously been criticized.

Furthermore, it has been agreed that 15- to 17-year-olds will be able to have abortions without parental consent or permission from the Abortion Board in the future. The parties to the agreement have emphasized, among other things, that the age of sexual consent is 15, and therefore, as a 15-year-old, one can make one’s own decisions about one’s own body.

The new rules in the field of abortion will be implemented through an amendment to the Health Act and will take effect on June 1, 2025.

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