The abortion election submitted its proposal for a new abortion law on Thursday. The report will form the basis for further work on changes to the abortion act in the Storting. June Holm is one of those with abortion experience who was present at the press conference when the committee presented its proposed amendments. When she herself became unwanted pregnant and had an abortion, Holm felt both loneliness, shame and guilt – so says the publisher’s description of the book Abruptt, which she subsequently wrote together with Aftenposten journalist Vilde Bratland Hansen. – It is a serious choice, says June Holm. She is clearly happy about the abortion committee’s proposal for changes to the law. – I was really touched and grateful that they have taken women seriously and see that it is never easy to have an abortion. The committee has done a good job, says Holm. Vilde Bratland Hansen and June Holm pose with the NOU “Abortion in Norway” and their own book “Aborted” at today’s press conference. Photo: William Jobling / news – The abortion law will be better in the future In short, the committee proposes: To reorganize the abortion boards. Extending the limit for self-determined abortion by six weeks. That everyone who has an abortion has the right to follow-up. – I think that the abortion law will be better in the future, says Holm, who is also a prominent women’s rights activist in other fields. Earlier this week, the author posed smiling with Minister of Culture and Equality Lubna Jaffery. We believe the deg foundation, which she founded, won the “Jenteprisen” on Monday “for having established a wide range of services for women who have been subjected to rape”. Will avoid new abortion debate KrF leader Olaug Bollestad said earlier on Thursday that the extended border is “a radical weakening of legal protection for unborn life”. The women’s group Ottar, Sex og Politikk, Sex og samfunn, Kvinnefronten and the Norwegian Women’s Affairs Association in the Women’s Movement’s abortion committee, on the other hand, believe that the proposals are not radical enough. They are disappointed by the committee’s proposal that self-determination should stop at week 18 and believe that the abortion boards should be removed. June Holm would prefer to avoid a new abortion debate in the media, such as one saw in 2019. – Now I think we should take women seriously. And not create a debate for and against, which makes it much more difficult than it already is to have an abortion. We must respect women and that they make the choice that is right for them, says Holm. – Covered with shame and taboo, the Abortion Election also discussed whether one should remove the requirement that women who want fetal reduction must appear before an abortion board, as the Solberg government decided in 2019. The abortion election was almost split down the middle on the issue of fetal reduction. A narrow majority thought that all applications for fetal reduction should still be processed in the abortion board. According to committee leader Kari Sønderland, the entire committee is behind the proposal for mandatory counseling in case of fetal reduction. June Holm welcomes it. In connection with their book, she and Vilde Bratland Hansen interviewed over 200 women who have had an abortion. – It has not been long since fetal reduction was introduced in Norway. I’ve spoken to several women who actually don’t quite know what they’re getting into. They lack support along the way, and having partners there, which is not allowed today. There has been little openness about it, believes Holm. She believes that the debates about fetal reduction in the media also play a role in the fact that there is little openness about this type of abortion. – It is covered with shame and taboo, much because of the debate that has been in the media, and therefore very good that there is more guidance there, says Holm.
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June praises the proposal for a new abortion law: – It is never easy
