A clear majority voted for a new abortion law in the Storting on Tuesday. Among the most important proposals that were adopted is the extension of the current self-persistent abortion limit from 12 to 18 weeks.
Thay also removed the committees for <span class="note" data-content="
Fetal reduction is a procedure where the pregnancy is terminated for one or more fetuses while the remaining fetus or fetuses continue to develop.
” data-term=”fosterantallsreduksjon”>fetal reduction for abortions up to 18 weeks.
In addition, the organization of the committees is changed, which will now have a majority of women and a legal expert.
All proposals received a solid majority.
– This is a historic day. We are helping to secure and strengthen one of the most basic rights in an equal society: the right to self-determined abortion. It is indeed about time, says SV’s deputy leader, Marian Hussein.
Seher Aydar (R), Marian Hussein (SV), Siv Mosleth (Sp), Sandra Bruflot (H), and Kamzy Gunaratnam (Ap) after the health and care committee in the Storting recommended adopting the government’s new abortion law.
Foto: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
Health and Care Minister Jan Christian Vestre (AP) says the change in the law strengthens women’s right to self-determined abortion.
– We have received a modern abortion law tailored to the times we live in. Almost 50 years ago, the abortion law was adopted with a narrow majority. Today is a historic day where there was a much larger majority, says Vestre.
Honoring the debate
The Storting has discussed the proposal for a new abortion law all day. Many pointed out the fine and factual tone in a debate over very tough issues.
– In many countries, the fight for women’s right to self-determined abortion is going in the wrong direction. Therefore, Norway must take the lead in strengthening fundamental human rights. We should not only fight for Norwegian women but also for women’s rights worldwide to self-determined abortion, says Hussein.
Although the majority is in favor of 18 weeks, several speakers expressed fear that an extension would lead to more late abortions; others believed this fear was undocumented and not real.
Those who voted against say this threatens the legal security of unborn life.
Most expressed that the choice is the woman’s.
A question of values
Abortion is a question of values. Therefore, the vote of each individual politician in the Storting determined whether the various proposals in the new abortion law received a majority or not.
It was clear in advance that the proposal to raise the self-determined abortion limit to 18 weeks would receive a large majority today.
During the debate in the Storting on Tuesday, there has been notable focus from all on follow-up. Several expressed uncertainty about the new law and its ability to ensure follow-up better than today.
Health and Care Minister Vestre (Ap) says he is confident that this will be taken care of in the health services and that they will monitor this.