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Spain abortion law proposed changes cause widespread protests

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Thousands protested the proposed liberalization of Spain's abortion laws in Madrid on Sunday. The changes, proposed earlier this month, include allowing abortions up to week 14 of pregnancy for any reason and lowering the age required for an abortion from 18 to 16. These reforms are in sharp contrast with the current law, established in 1985, which allows women over the age of 18 the right to abort only up to 12 weeks in cases of rape, up to 22 weeks in cases of fetal malformation, and at any stage where there are serious health risks to the mother. In protests organized by pro-life groups Derecho a Vivir, Hazte Oir, Medicos por la Vida and Provida Madrid, demonstrators chanted "no right to kill, right to life" and urged the government not to adopt the proposed changes. Similar demonstrations took place in cities throughout Spain on Sunday. The panel tasked with investigating changes to Spanish abortion law was formed in September at the request of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as part of a series of social reforms including the legalization of same-sex marriage and streamlined divorce proceedings. Since the committee was formed, the conservative Popular Party has repeatedly expressed the opinion that relaxed abortion laws would stand in opposition to Article 15 of the Spanish Constitution, which guarantees the right to life.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 30, 2009 (boomark / email).