The Right to Abortion Under Threat in Europe, Warns Amnesty International

Amnesty International warns that various obstacles are restricting women's access to abortion in Europe, a right that some movements are attempting to undermine. The organization published a report analyzing the situation in about forty countries.

Despite legal reforms aimed at making abortion more accessible in various European countries, Amnesty International states that "many administrative, social, and practical obstacles" persist, hindering access to this procedure.

In more than a dozen countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria, the cost of a voluntary interruption of pregnancy (abortion) can be "prohibitive" if not covered by the healthcare system.

In some countries, like Italy, Croatia, and Romania, the "very high" number of healthcare professionals refusing to perform abortions due to personal or religious beliefs compromises access to the procedure.

Countries including Albania, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, and Portugal impose "unjustified medical prerequisites," such as waiting periods or counseling consultations, which can lead to delays in access to abortion, according to Amnesty International. The organization calls on European governments to "take measures to ensure equal and universal access" to abortion services.

Political attempts to restrict access to abortion have occurred in the Slovak Parliament, as noted by Amnesty International.

The presence of "aggressive" anti-abortion activists near specialized sexual and reproductive health facilities is also becoming an "increasingly common obstacle" to abortion access. The organization has documented such cases in Poland and Austria.

Family planning centers in France and mandatory counseling centers in Germany have experienced attacks from groups hostile to abortion.

"Anti-rights groups have more resources than ever and are able to pressure governments," reacted Lola Schulmann, Gender Justice Advocate for Amnesty International France, to AFP.

"It is necessary to provide organizations with financial resources to combat this offensive," she added, urging European leaders to "recognize the threat" and "promote access to abortion for all."