As more than half of Belgians (54%) are in favour of extending the country’s current legal 12-week abortion limit to 18 weeks, over a dozen organisations are urging the federal government to relax the strict measure.
In Belgium, abortion is currently permitted up to 12 weeks after conception. After that, a termination may only take place for medical reasons. There is also a legally mandated six-day waiting period between the initial consultation and the procedure.
New polling reveals a striking gap between politics, science and what Belgians want:
✔ 54% of Belgians support extending Belgium’s abortion limit from 12 to 18 weeks
✔ 90% say pregnant people should decide for themselves about an unwanted pregnancy
✔ Extending the limit to 18 weeks could help 74% now forced abroad.
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SOURCE: Brussels Times, by Maïthé Chini, 27 October 2026. PHOTO: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko