Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen (H), Seher Aydar (R), Marian
Hussein (SV), Kamzy Gunaratnam (Ap) and Sandra
Bruflot (H) receive 10,000 signatures from the
Women’s Movement Abortion Committee.
On the 3rd (and 12th) of December the Norwegian Parliament adopted a new abortion law securing abortion on demand until week 18 of pregnancy. This is a historic adoption, as the old abortion law, limiting abortion on demand until week 12, had been in place without changes since 1978.
The law was passed with an overwhelming majority, 138 of 169 representatives voted in favour of the new law. 115 of 169 voted in favour of the extension of self-determination up to week 18, and 113 voted in favour of self-determination of fetal reduction until week 18. Extending self-determination from weeks 12 to 18 will mean that around 450 women each year will not have to meet with a burdensome, unnecessary and delaying abortion board, but can make the decision fully themselves.
Another win was that the new law makes provisions for assessing how access to abortion services can be rolled out through the primary health care sector. This will ensure improved access throughout the country, without delays. Currently access can only be obtained by contacting hospitals/specialists. Voluntary access to information and counselling is strengthened in the law, stating that persons who have been denied abortion (by the abortion-board) also have the right to access voluntary counselling.
IPPF Norway stated on the day of the passage of the new law:
“Today we have reason to celebrate the victory and rejoice that the country has received a new abortion law that is more in line with the advice of the World Health Organization. There has been a lot of political work and negotiations behind such a law, which means that not all our demands were fulfilled, but it is still a big step in the right direction.”
Ahead of the vote, the Women’s Movement’s Abortion Committee, a coalition of women’s and sexual rights organisations, handed over 10,000 signatures to the Parliamentary Committee on Health, demanding a new abortion law with increased self-determination.
IPPF Norway has worked extensively to change the law in collaboration with the Women’s Abortion Committee, and in close dialogue with a group of committed Parliamentarians. The overwhelming majority vote for the new law is a great win! At the same time, we will continue to work for the complete removal of the abortion-boards and for Norway to fully implement the WHO’s standards and global guidelines.
The new law calls for a review of the law within the next four-year period. IPPF Norway (Sex og Politikk) is hoping that this will provide another opportunity to scrutinise the effect of the continued role of the abortion boards, as well as access through primary health care.
SOURCE: E-mail from Kjersti Augland, 17 December 2024. For more information, contact her at: kjersti@sexogpolitikk.no. See also Sex og Politikk’s press release. 3 December 2024.