Italian Senate Approves Law Allowing Anti-Abortion Groups Access to Women Considering Pregnancy Termination
Image Source: Euronews.com
Italy: The recent approval of a law allowing anti-abortion groups access to women considering ending their pregnancies has reignited tensions around the issue of abortion. The Senate’s decision, with a 95-68 vote, marks a significant moment, occurring 46 years after abortion was legalised in the predominantly Catholic country.
The legislation, tied to European Union COVID-19 recovery funds, includes an amendment sponsored by Premier Giorgia Meloni’s far-right-led government. This amendment permits regions to allow groups with “qualified experience supporting motherhood” to access public support centres where women considering abortions receive counselling.
For the right, this amendment aligns with the original intent of the 1978 law legalising abortion, known as Law 194, which includes provisions to prevent the procedure and support motherhood. However, the left-wing opposition views it as a step backward in abortion rights, a concern that had been raised during Meloni’s 2022 election campaign.
Under Law 194, Italy allows abortion on request in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, or later if a woman’s health or life is at risk. However, the law faces challenges in implementation, as healthcare personnel can register as conscientious objectors and refuse to perform abortions.
Meloni, who campaigned on a platform of “God, fatherland, and family,” insists that her government is not rolling back the 1978 law but rather seeking to fully implement it. She has also emphasised the need to encourage women to have more children to address Italy’s declining birthrate.
The development in Italy contrasts with recent trends in other European countries. France recently enshrined the guaranteed right to abortion in its constitution, while Malta voted to ease its strict abortion laws. Polish lawmakers are also considering lifting a near-total ban on abortion.
Amidst these developments, Italy’s left-wing fears a US-style scenario where states are increasingly restricting access to abortion. Elly Schlein, head of Italy’s opposition Democratic Party, has called for establishing an obligatory percentage of doctors willing to perform abortions in public hospitals to ensure that these rights are not merely on paper.
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