Tuesday is a historic day when the Storting for the first time in 46 years will vote on a new abortion law in Norway. – This could be a historic day because we can get a much larger majority than 50 years ago, says parliamentary representative for the Labor Party Kamzy Gunaratnam. Seher Aydar (R), Marian Hussein (SV), Siv Mossleth (Sp), Sandra Bruflot (H) and Kamzy Gunaratnam (Ap) after the health and care committee in the Storting recommends adopting the government’s new abortion law. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB The issue divides several parties and the government, and will be voted on at 3pm today in the Stortingsalen. The most important thing about the new law is that it extends the current limit for self-determined abortion from 12 to 18 weeks. However, in the proposal there is only statutory follow-up of women who have self-determined abortions. Liberal leader Guri Melby believes all women deserve the same follow-up regardless of the reason for the abortion. – We want to use this opportunity to ensure good follow-up for women, no matter what the cause of the abortion, because the experience can be just as tough whether it is a self-selected abortion or a spontaneous abortion. – Must apply to everyone In addition to the extension of the limit for self-determined abortion, Melby wants the Storting to vote on who the follow-up after abortion should apply to. Under the current system, there is no statutory right for women to receive follow-up after an abortion. Regardless of whether it is self-determined, or whether it is a miscarriage. Current abortion law Self-determined abortion: Women have the right to self-determined abortion up to the end of the 12th week of pregnancy, i.e. 12 weeks after the first day of the last period. Abortion after 12 weeks: Between week 12 and week 18, an abortion can be granted on application to an abortion board. The tribunal assesses the case based on criteria such as risk to the woman’s physical or mental health, difficult life situation or serious birth defects. After week 18: Abortion can only be granted under particularly strong reasons, for example if there is a danger to the woman’s life or in the case of very serious birth defects. After week 22: Abortion is generally considered not permitted after week 22, as the fetus is considered viable outside the womb. As of October 2023, this is the current legislation. – We believe this is a very good opportunity to, in addition to ensuring women’s statutory right to decide over their own bodies, also to ensure the health follow-up they need. But not everyone agrees with left-wing leader Guri Melby. Sandra Bruflot from the Conservative Party has led the work on the abortion law for the government, and is one of those who will vote against it. Sandra Bruflot (H) disagrees that even those who have spontaneous abortions should receive statutory follow-up. Photo: Alf Simensen / NTB – But the abortion law regulates induced abortions, where we choose to end the pregnancy ourselves. And since we cannot regulate a miscarriage, that is also the reason why we have kept it out, says Bruflot. The Norwegian Women’s Sanitary Association disagrees. They believe that the Storting cannot distinguish between the causes of an abortion, says general secretary Malin Stensundnes. – We are very happy that the Liberal Party is raising this issue in the Storting. We know that losing a child can be very stressful. And it makes no sense that we now ensure better follow-up for those who have a planned abortion than for those who experience a miscarriage. A question of values Abortion is a question of values. It is therefore the vote of each individual politician in the Storting hall that determines whether the various proposals in the new abortion law receive a majority or not. In advance, it is clear that the proposal to raise the self-determined abortion limit to 18 weeks will receive a large majority today. But regarding the proposal from the Liberal Party that follow-up after an abortion should be ensured regardless of the reason for the abortion, there is, on the other hand, uncertainty. – This should be uncontroversial, because it is something the Storting has stood behind before, says Mellby. The Ministry of Health and Care has previously said that the bill to be voted on today is about self-determined abortion and that spontaneous abortion does not belong here. Today, the ministry says that it is now up to each elected Storting politician to decide. These are the new proposals for the Abortion Act These are the proposals for changes to the Abortion Act: New purpose clause: The Ministry of Health and Welfare proposes that the Act should have a twofold purpose. The law must ensure that consideration is given both to the rights of the pregnant woman and to society’s need to protect the unborn life. Extension of self-determined abortion: Women’s right to self-determined abortion is extended from week 12 to week 18. Fetal reduction: Fetal reduction is defined as abortion, and the pregnant woman must have the right to decide for herself whether the number of fetuses should be reduced up to week 18, within what is medically necessary proper. Right to guidance and follow-up: Women have the statutory right to guidance and information, whether they choose to terminate or complete the pregnancy. Women who choose abortion also have the statutory right to follow-up interviews afterwards. Change of the abortion boards: The current system of abortion boards is being reformed. The current tribunals will be abolished, and new tribunals will be set up to assess applications after the 18th week of pregnancy. Composition of the tribunals: The new tribunals must be chaired by a doctor, have one additional member with health or social work expertise and one member with legal expertise. The majority of the tribunals must be women. Discrimination considerations: In order to comply with the prohibition against discrimination against persons with disabilities, medical conditions in the fetus shall not alone be grounds for allowing an abortion. It is not the condition in itself, but what the condition will mean for the pregnancy, birth, upbringing and care of the child that can provide grounds for abortion after the 18th week of pregnancy. Right of reservation for healthcare personnel: The right of healthcare personnel to reserve against abortion for reasons of conscience is continued and enshrined in law. Disagreement within the parties Several parties have exempted their representatives during the vote at the Storting on Tuesday – that is, they can vote for whatever they want, even if it goes against the party programme. Bård Hoksrud in the Progressive Party says there is great disagreement within the parties when it comes to the expansion of self-determined abortion. He himself will vote to keep the current law (12 weeks). – Consideration for the fetus must be given high priority, he says. Bård Hoksrud (Frp) will vote to retain the current abortion law Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB The government has also proposed that the reduction in the number of fetuses, also known as “twin abortion”, should again be self-determined, now up to week 18. Here, however, it is uncertain about the proposal will get a majority, even though an news count shows a narrow majority for the same limit for the reduction in the number of fetuses. – I have not calculated this, but I would like to think that there will be a different number of votes and that there may be slightly fewer yes, says the Center Party’s Alexander Heen. Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik in Venstre says it should be up to the woman even if she wants fetal reduction. – I will vote for this proposal. The woman must decide for herself, not a tribunal as it is today. An ethical dilemma Opponents of extending the limit for voluntary abortion from week 12 to week 18 claim that this will weaken legal protection for the fetus. KrF, which is among the most prominent critics, has expressed concern that such a change could lead to more abortions later in pregnancy. They also fear that the new law could result in more children being selected based on gender and diagnoses, information that is often available after week 12. Olaug Bollestad (KrF) calls it all an ethical dilemma. – In the law, there is a section that protects the unborn life, but the opposite happens in the proposal to raise the limit to 18 weeks. – If we remove the protection of the fetus, we will have a sorting society, she says. Olaug Bollestad (KrF) in the Storting hall on Tuesday in connection with the consideration of a new abortion law. Photo: Thomas Fure / NTB Published 03.12.2024, at 10.53 Updated 03.12.2024, at 11.13
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Historic day when Norway votes on new abortion law – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
